#Middlebury #Larceny
Middlebury Police Chief Fran Dabbo said Samuel Montville, a local contractor, has been charged with larceny for failing to perform work for which he had received partial payment. Based on comments on social media following publication of this news in the area daily newspaper, the couple who filed the complaint against him are not the only residents who have had issues with him.
Dabbo said on Dec. 20, Officer George Slaiby was dispatched to a Jerico Road residence regarding home repair work that was partially paid for but never performed. The victim stated she called Montville to perform some siding and window repairs at their home.
Montville, 51, a Middlebury resident, quoted the victim a price of $9,700 on June 24. Both parties agreed and Montville said he needed a 25% deposit of $2,425 plus the full material deposit of $3,202 to order the materials. The victim paid Montville the money.
Montville said the work would begin Aug. 5. When the work did not begin when promised, Montville went on to give several start dates that never materialized. The victim stated that every time she or her husband would contact Montville inquiring when he would begin the project, Montville kept putting off the start date.
On Sept. 3, a small amount of building materials was delivered to the home. Between Sept. 24 and Nov. 4, the victim and Montville exchanged phone calls and texts regarding arranging a time when Montville would repay the money he received. Montville never showed up at the home on the agreed to dates as promised to repay the funds.
The victims made several more attempts to get their money returned but nothing materialized. Finally the victims told Montville that if he did not return their money by Dec. 16 they were going to the Middlebury Police Department to make a formal complaint. On Dec. 20, the victims made a sworn statement to Officer Slaiby.
Officer Slaiby completed an arrest warrant charging Samuel Montville with third-degree larceny. On Jan. 15, after learning of the arrest warrant, Montville turned himself in. He was arrested on a charge of third-degree larceny and released on a $5,000 non surety bond. He is scheduled to appear at the Waterbury Court Jan. 29.
Chief Dabbo reminds residents to ask for licenses and insurance certificates and references before signing any contracts or allowing contractors to perform work at their homes. In this case, Montville had a valid license when the victims hired him. State records at elicense.ct.gov show he received Home Improvement Contractor license 06554108 May 31, 2019. That license lapsed Nov. 30, 2019.
State records also show Montville got a home improvement contractor license June 3, 2005, that expired Nov. 30, 2005, and another license June 23, 2006, that expired Nov. 30, 2006. The next license was issued May 31, 2019. Connecticut home improvement contractor licenses expire Nov. 30 of each year, so must be renewed for another year.
In Connecticut home improvement contractors must obtain a license from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection if they will do work the website describes as follows:
Home Improvement is any permanent change to residential property, including but not limited to driveways, swimming pools, porches, garages, roofs, siding, insulation, flooring, patios, landscaping, painting, fences, doors and windows, and waterproofing.
UPDATED Jan. 21 to correct dates for deadline and filing of complaint.
