Ridgway contractor facing multiple felony charges

A Ridgway contractor is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly failing to complete work that he was paid to do and not refunding the victim.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed at the office of Magisterial District Judge James L. Martin in Johnsonburg, Jeffrey Thomas Schatz, 50, of 220 Euclid Ave., Ridgway, is facing charges in relation to the incident.

Investigation into the incident has been ongoing by the Johnsonburg Borough Police Department since September 2020.

The affidavit states that a contract for home repairs was signed between the now-70-yearold male victim, of Johnsonburg, and Schatz on July 11, 2019. At that time, Schatz required a 25% deposit for supplies and labor, and the victim paid $6,000 cash on a project totaling $24,200. Work was supposed to begin in September of October 2019.

According to the affidavit, several calls were made and messages left on Schatz’s phone number in October without any response. The victim had Schatz contacted through a third party. At that time, Schatz allegedly stated that the victim would be his first job in June 2020.

The affidavit states that “no improvements or contact (were) made until a phone call in July of 2020 in which (Schatz) said due to COVID he was extremely busy and would start the third week of September 2020.”

The victim submitted a written statement to the Johnsonburg Borough Police Department on Sept. 14, 2020 after speaking with the chief on Sept. 2, 2020.

According to the affidavit, the repairs contracted were for repairs of a foundation and floors of a garage, repointing of the bricks on the house, new topsoil and seed for the yard, etc.

On Sept. 16, 2020, the chief of the Johnsonburg Borough Police Department called and spoke to Schatz. At that time, Schatz reportedly admitted to the contract and said he was going to start work at the victim’s property the following week.

Schatz did show up and start the contracted work at the end of September 2020. The rest of the money owed on the project was paid, and a ledger was kept until a complete payment was received by Schatz on Jan. 27, 2021 totaling $24,200.

The affidavit alleges that Schatz would show up every couple of weeks and do a little bit of work. This included breaking up a concrete sidewalk on the property in November 2021. This was also reportedly the last time Schatz was at the property.

The concrete for the sidewalk was never replaced, the repointing was not completed, the previous concrete work has now cracked, the garage was never sealed and is letting water in, the topsoil Schatz put down is full of rocks and weeds.

The victim attempted to contact Schatz twice in May with no response or call back.

The victim returned to the Johnsonburg Borough Police Department on June 2. According to the affidavit, at that time, the victim was “distraught and said he has had extreme anguish and stress dealing with this contractor and just wants the money back for the unfinished work and labor fees totaling $3,150 so he can get the job completed.” The victim also reportedly told police that he did not want Schatz back on his property.

The Johnsonburg Borough Police Department received before and after photographs of the property and the work completed and left unfinished by Schatz Hometown Masonry, as well as the signed contracts, payment ledger, copy of texts, and building permit.

An officer contacted Schatz on his cellular phone, and Schatz stated he would try to go back and finish some of the work. The officer advised Schatz that the victim wanted reimbursed for the work not completed and that Schatz was not to go back on the victim’s property.

According to the affidavit, Schatz “became angry and started swearing and said, ‘it’s only a civil suit.’ (The officer) advised (Schatz) he would be getting criminal charges in this matter if it is not resolved.”

Schatz said he would pay the victim the total requested within 30 days of the phone call. The payment deadline was July 2.

The affidavit alleged that, after speaking with the officer, Schatz “sent a harassing text message to the victim but agreed to pay him.”

On July 7, the victim once again contacted the Johnsonburg Borough Police Department and told the officer that Schatz had not repaid him or made any arrangements to make things right. As a result, criminal charges for having a signed contract for home improvement, accepting the money, and failing to provide the work and supplies still in excess of over $2,000 within a four-year period, and not making the contract whole with the victim have been filed against Schatz.

Schatz is facing a second-degree felony charge of deceptive business practices – sale less than quant; a third-degree felony charge of theft by deception – false impression; a third-degree felony charge of theft by deception – fail to correct; and a thirddegree felony charge of receives advance payment for services and fails to perform.

A preliminary hearing for Schatz is scheduled to be held before Judge Martin at 3 p.m. on Aug. 17.