Police are searching for a former Ladoga man who is wanted on warrants from Boone and Montgomery counties.
The Jamestown Police Department in Boone County recently made a social media post indicating officers are searching for John Abney who is wanted on two felony counts of theft. Police said they are investigating allegations that Abney took money from a Boone County woman for home renovations, but never started the job.
In late August, a Jamestown woman told police she had hired Abney for two projects and that she had given him half of the project costs upfront. The woman alleges Abney never delivered supplies for the project or showed up to do any of the work. Jamestown’s Town Marshal Aaron Clapp said the woman paid Abney nearly $16,000.
Clapp said Indiana’s home improvement fraud laws make it difficult to prove theft has been committed in investigations like these. If supplies have been delivered, or if there has been any labor done, Indiana home improvement fraud laws consider this to be a job done, even if done poorly.
Jamestown police were able to subpoena Abney’s bank statements and discovered he has received payments from multiple homeowners recently, including families in Montgomery and Warren counties and Vermilion County, Illinois.
Clapp said his department is working with Detective Ethan Redmon from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office on the investigation.
There is currently an arrest warrant issued in Montgomery County for Abney. He is facing a charge of probation violation stemming from a 2019 operating a vehicle while intoxicated charge.
Clapp said investigators believe Abney has traveled out of state and his whereabouts are being concealed by a family member.
Clapp advised homeowners to fully vet contractors prior to hiring them for any project. Obtaining references is imperative, he added, and reputable contractors will not ask for half of the payment upfront.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Jamestown Police Department at 765-676-9484.