The case of a contractor accused of scamming the city of Holmes Beach out of more than $90,000 for failing to install curbs as contracted is at a crossroads.
Either a plea agreement or trial in 12th Circuit Judicial Court is the direction expected by assistant state attorney Courtney Hollen, recently assigned to the case by the office’s white-collar crime division.
Chris Richard Arnold of Bradenton, owner of Services by Chris Arnold LLC, was arrested in September 2013 on a charge of a felony scheme to defraud the city of Holmes Beach on a 2012 public works contract for hire.
Hollen said trial periods beginning either Nov. 10 or Nov. 17 were chosen at a recent case management hearing.
“Either there will be a trial that goes forward or a plea agreement worked out between now and then,” Hollen said.
A call to Arnold’s attorney Jason Reid, of the Law offices of Carlson & Meissner, was not returned before press time.
The charge stems from an original $196,000 contract in 2012 to replace curbs at various locations throughout the city.
Instead of installing the curbs not to exceed 8,000 linear feet as contracted, Arnold invoiced the city for $92,830.50 more than the work he performed, according to a probable cause affidavit by HBPD detective Sgt. Brian Hall.
Arnold is alleged to have painted over orange spray paint, which had indicated curbs to be replaced in accordance with the contract, with gray spray paint.
The investigation into Arnold’s work reportedly began in April 2013 after one of Arnold’s former employees told police his crew did only half the contracted work.
Former public works superintendent and building official Joe Duennes, tasked with overseeing the project, told Hall he didn’t do the inspections, but did sign off on Arnolds’ work.
Additional charges under consideration relate to other work the city had contracted him to perform, according to Tokajer.
Tokajer said last week that certain drainage work still needs to be evaluated by the city public works department before the police can go forward on its investigation.
According to court depositions, Arnold also performed work on the Grassy Point parking lot.
Arnold built the public works building near city hall, 5801 Marina Drive, completed in 2012, according to Holmes Beach Commission Chair Judy Titsworth. She called the quality of the building’s construction into question.
The next court event is a docket sounding at 9 a.m. Oct. 28 at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.