Man Accused Of Defrauding Businesses

SEBRING - A Sebring man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $11,000 bond, after he was arrested, accused of paying Duck's Body Shop with bad checks to get his car back, as well as ABC Appliance for merchandise there.

Raymond "Ray" Paul Hartley, 24, of 306 Swallow Ave., was booked Wednesday on charges of grand theft $300 or more but less than $5,000 and two counts of fraud - insufficient funds - obtaining goods or services in return for a worthless check $150 or more.

His bond was set at $8,000 on those charges.

According to a report by sheriff's deputy Max Van D'Huynslager, on April 3, he was called to 1153 Hawthorne Drive, to the office of Duck's Body Shop and Garage Inc., about a check fraud complaint.

Business owner Beverly J. Ragland reported she got two returned checks from Wachovia Bank, written on a closed account, the report stated.

Hartley reportedly issued the bad checks, one for $215.25, written on March 14, to pay for a vehicle he had towed to the shop and a second check for $431.59, written on March 17 for additional repairs, the report stated.

Ragland reportedly contacted Hartley on March 26 and told him about the bad checks. She told investigators that Hartley told her he would come to the office to resolve the issue.

That still had not happened by the time she contacted the sheriff's office on April 3, the report stated.
Warrants were issued on June 3 for Hartley's arrest.

At about 10:57 p.m. Wednesday, Sebring police officer Chad Landry recognized Hartley while he was at the Gate gas station, located at 300 U.S. 27, in Sebring, from an investigation being conducted by the Sebring Police Department.

Landry checked Hartley for any outstanding warrants, arrested him and transported him to the jail.

New Charges Added From ABC
Hartley was re-arrested Friday at the jail on new charges of grand theft $300 or more but less than $5,000 and two counts of fraud-insufficient funds - obtaining property by worthless check in an unrelated Highlands County Sheriff's Office case.

According to that arrest report, on May 19, in two separate transactions, Hartley bought a mini-refrigerator and a television at ABC Appliance, located at 13611 U.S. 98, in Sebring, using checks from a Wachovia Bank account that had been closed in 2007.

One check was written for an Avanti Stainless Steel 4.4 cubic foot mini-refrigerator priced at $249 and a second check was issued for a Toshiba 24-inch flat screen television valued at $299.99.

During an interview with sheriff's investigator Kenneth Cooper, Hartley reportedly told him he had issued the checks from his closed account because he was having problems with his direct deposit from his open checking account which had insufficient funds.

He apologized and said he would return the merchandise, the report stated. Additional bond was set at $3,000.