Going to Jail and need advice!

Going to Jail and need advice!

Flipper/Rehabber · Edmond, OK · Member since 2016 · 209 posts · 107 votes

I have two rehabs going on side by side. My main contractor doesn't have the resources to complete both projects at the same time. This forced me to hire a second guy. Initial conversations went really well. He was a a retired marine looking for work. His bid was fair and then further reduced because I allowed him to stay at the property during the rehab. This was a very extensive job with water damage. A month and a half into the project now and I have been pleased with his work. However, today i get a phone call from my other guy next door and he informs me that the new guy had been arrested for stealing from Lowes. He was able to get this information because of his relationship with the pro-desk.  As of this evening the new guy was back at the property working. My question is, do I let him complete the work up to the level he has been paid and then fire him? fire him now and take the hit? Or let him finish the job in its entirety?

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Dave FosterBusiness Member
Qualified Intermediary for 1031 Exchanges · St. Petersburg, FL · Member since 2013 · 9k+ posts · 9k+ votes
8y

@Rocky Griffin, What's he done to make you fire him?  He gave you a good bid.  You're pleased with his work.  He was at work today (and if he was sober that would make him employee of the month in Key West).

Be very careful when you... heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who heard it from another.....

The 1031 Investor5137 Reviews
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  • Investor · Vancouver, WA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    8y

    Years ago we had a handyman who had served time in a state penitentiary in another state. He had a felony for assault. He was very loyal to us, street wise and protective of us... which was a good thing. Did good work too. Fast forward to a year later... one day he didn't show up for work, so I checked the county jail. Sure enough, he was there... he had gotten into a street fight and hit someone. We had a lot of faith in him, as we had worked with him for over a year and saw he was a good soul. He didn't drink and didn't smoke and didn't use drugs.  We went to court and spoke on his behalf. Told the judge he would do better out of jail and working. His assault charge was not a serious one and the judge let him out and had him take anger management classes. He was even more beholden to us after that. I helped him navigate the paperwork and fines that go along with being arrested. Months later, on Easter morning he showed up on our doorstep wearing a suit and tie and gave us a touching Easter card. We invited him to join us for church and he said "Thank you, but I have other people to visit this morning."  We never saw him again. We still think about him and miss him. Every once in awhile we check the jail rosters and run his name through the state court case records. So far, so good. He hasn't re-offended... at least in this state. We're still rooting for him!

    As for your situation @Rocky Griffin, find out what you can from the public record and have an open and honest conversation him about the circumstances that led to his arrest. Is he making amends and accepting responsibility for his error in judgement? What kind of risk is this for you? What kind of benefit is it for you?  An arrest is not a conviction. Seems like he either didn't go to jail or got out quickly, which indicates he isn't high risk. However he needs to shore up, rebuild trust and act with integrity. If you decide to continue to work with him, this would be a good time to run a background check on him if you haven't already done so. Good idea to run the scenario by your attorney too.

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Edmond, OK · Member since 2016 · 209 posts · 107 votes
    8y

    I should clarify that I am all for second chances. My main guy served 15 years in Federal prison for bank robbery. My own father has served a several sentences in prison for drug charges. I can personally attest to the level of intelligence of some inmates, who if would have applied that intelligence in a different manner would have been largely successful. 

  • Longview, TX · Member since 2017 · 65 posts · 50 votes
    8y
    I used to be the office manager for a construction company and always joked that when we accepted applications, it was "felon day" at the office. Most our guys had some kind of criminal record. It was just the nature of the beast. Many of them were good guys with great work ethic. I'm with a lot of the others here, I'd talk to him and lean toward letting him finish. @Rocky Griffin it has absolutely amazed me at the intelligence of some criminals. Using that brain in a different direction would, literally, mean a completely different life for some people. I'll also echo the stolen property didn't make it to your house, so that should excuse liability. The burden then falls on Lowe's or the DA to prove you received stolen goods (that they didn't catch him stealing).
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