Summerside contractor charged with fraud changes plea to guilty

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SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — A Summerside contractor accused of fraud for allegedly failing to do work he had been paid to do won’t be going to trial in any case.

Brandon Lloyd Waite, 30, has pleaded responsible to one of many three prices of fraud over $5,000 he had been dealing with. The opposite two counts have been stayed.

Waite had initially pleaded not responsible to the costs and had been scheduled to start out a two-day provincial court docket trial on Nov. 2. Nevertheless, Waite’s lawyer, Robert McNeill, knowledgeable the court docket that he and the Crown had reached an settlement and a trial wouldn’t be required.

Joint assertion of info

A joint assertion of info, a doc outlining the circumstances of the offences which each side of the case agree on, is being ready and might be submitted to the court docket earlier than Waite’s subsequent court docket look. That might be on Nov. 27.

The Crown additionally indicated to the court docket that it will be referring the accused to the restorative justice program.

Waite was initially charged in late March after an RCMP investigation into allegations in opposition to his enterprise, The Cottage Firm.

Roughly 10 months earlier, police had acquired complaints from three property house owners who mentioned they paid Waite a complete of greater than $140,000 in 2021 to construct cottages in Queens and Prince counties, however no work had but been carried out.

Tricks to keep away from building fraud

After saying Waite’s arrest earlier this yr, RCMP additionally issued a number of suggestions to assist the general public find out about and defend themselves from building fraud.

What’s building fraud? 

• Any time somebody hires a contractor and that contractor lies or deceives clients to deliberately take one thing from their buyer; that is thought-about building fraud.
• Police should show that somebody meant to do one thing dishonest, like utilizing solid paperwork, mendacity about work or permits, or if cash is collected primarily based on a lie

keep away from fraud: 

• Begin researching; reputations matter, and a contractor’s fame is their most essential trait.

Inquiries to ask:

• Have they got the credentials to do the job? 
• Is the worth too good to be true? 
• Have they got the required insurance coverage and permits?
• Independently verify references via a buddy, household or neighbour?

As soon as a contractor has been employed:

• Watch out for stress ways. 
• If you happen to suspect an issue, do not rush into extra funds.

defend your self: 

• Get issues in writing, together with contracts, invoices, quotes and emails. 
• Ensure communication and expectations are clear. 
• Hold information and cheques. 
• Know precisely what you might be giving cash for and have that in writing.
• Get a receipt.

What occurs when you have been defrauded? 

• Contact the police. 
• Civil court docket is all the time an choice.  
• Contact a lawyer or small claims court docket. 

Colin MacLean is a reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He might be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and adopted on X @JournalPMacLean.