MARCH 26, 2008

POOL CONTRACTOR INDICTED
ON THEFT, FAILURE TO REGISTER CHARGES 

A Mercer County grand jury returned indictments last week charging a Mercer County pool contractor in four separate crimes, Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. announced today.   

Four indictments were returned on March 19, 2008, and charge Michael J. Schmitt, age 44, of Prospect Street, Ewing (who does business as Mike’s Pool Service) with: 

-- One count of theft by deception for taking $9,092 from Daniel Piscopo and not performing any work or returning the money.  The offense occurred on various days between June 15 and November 14, 2007, in Hamilton Township; 

-- One count of theft by deception for taking $7,844 from Paige Paul and not performing any work or returning the money.  The offense occurred on various days between July 20 and October 31, 2007, in Hopewell Township; 

-- One count of failing to register with the state and performing pool repairs in Hamilton and Princeton townships on various days in 2007; 

-- One count of failing to register with the state and performing pool repairs in Hamilton Township on various days in 2007. 

The indictments are the result of referrals to the prosecutor’s office by the Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs and investigation by the prosecutor’s Economic Crime Unit and the Hamilton Township Police Department.

The theft charge is a third-degree crime that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.  The failure to register charge is a fourth-degree crime that carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.  Assistant Prosecutor James Scott presented the cases to the grand jury.

To confirm that a contractor is registered to do business in New Jersey, Bocchini said that residents should call the Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs at (609) 989-6671.

The Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs handles complaints from individual consumers against local businesses.  The office protects Mercer County consumers from fraudulent and unconscionable business practices.  It also provides consumer counseling and complaint resolution services to approximately 350,000 Mercer County residents.  While its jurisdiction is most Mercer County businesses, the office provides a referral service to assist all county consumers.

An indictment is merely an accusation.  All persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.