Delco contractor admits to home improvement fraud

NORRISTOWN >> A Delaware County contractor faces some time behind bars and a hefty restitution bill after he didn’t complete a home improvement project for which he was paid by a Lower Merion homeowner.

Matthew P. Lyons, 28, of the 5100 block of Westley Drive, Clifton Heights, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 10 days to 23 months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of home improvement fraud in connection with incidents that occurred between June and July 2018 at a residence along Mount Pleasant Road in Lower Merion.

Judge Risa Vetri Ferman, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, ordered Lyons to report to jail on Jan. 3 to begin serving the sentence. The judge said the minimum sentence can be served over the course of five consecutive weekends.

Lyons also must complete one year of probation following parole, meaning he will be under court supervision for about three years. Additionally, Lyons must complete 100 hours of community service.

The judge ordered Lyons to pay $8,500 in restitution to the Lower Merion homeowner.

Lower Merion police said the investigation determined that the Mount Pleasant Road resident entered into a contract with Lyons, the owner of a masonry and concrete business, on June 17, 2018, to construct a new patio and paid $8,500, half the cost of the project, up front, according to the criminal complaint filed by Lower Merion Detective Brian Layton.

“At the time of the agreement, Lyons advised (the victim) that the job would be completed in three weeks,” Layton wrote in the arrest affidavit.

When the project was not completed by October, the victim contacted police. Detectives indicated in court papers that they attempted to contact Lyons multiple times without any results.

The victim subsequently had to hire another contractor to complete the patio work at a cost of $12,000, according to court papers.

“From the information provided by (the victim) and the actions of Lyons, it appears that Lyons participated in deceptive business practices,” Layton alleged.

With the home improvement fraud charge, prosecutors alleged Lyons received advance payment for performing home improvement services and failed to perform or provide such services or materials when specified in a contract.

Other felony charges of deceptive business practices and theft by unlawful taking or disposition were dismissed against Lyons as part of the plea agreement.