Marion Man Faces Home Improvement Fraud ChargeA Marion man faces home improvement fraud and theft charges after allegedly agreeing to trim some trees but then not showing up to do the work after he was given a deposit.
James Michael Duncan Jr., 41, Marion, was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 1:56 p.m. Tuesday on five counts of failure to appear and level 6 felony home improvement fraud. His preliminary bond was set at $5,250.
Court documents filed June 14 list charges against him as home improvement fraud, a Class A misdemeanor with an enhancement to make it a level 6 felony; and theft, a Class A misdemeanor.
On June 2, a man reported to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department that he and Duncan agreed that Duncan would trim trees at the man’s property in Kosciusko County in exchange for money.
The man said Duncan was given a check on May 2 as a deposit for the work Duncan promised he would do. The check was cashed but Duncan never returned to do the work, court documents state. The man said he was not able to make contact with Duncan and that he believes Duncan is never going to trim the trees.
On June 11, KCSD deputy Shane Bucher spoke with a relation of the man’s who provided a copy of the signed proposal to trim the trees, which was signed by her and Duncan. She also said she provided the check to Duncan. She was able to identify Duncan in a photo lineup.
On June 14, a warrant for Duncan’s arrest was issued.
