Building Contractor Faces Felony Theft Charges

Washburn County Building Contractor Charged With Felony Theft From Property Owner

Building Contractor Faces Felony Theft Charges

WASHBURN COUNTY -- Felony charges of Theft by Contractor have been filed in Washburn County Circuit Court against Larry C. BLock, of Minong, WI.

Block is the owner of Northern Lakes Construction, and according to a criminal complaint filed against him in Washburn County Circuit Court, between August 2019 and November 2019, Block received $56,800 from a client for purposes of improving a property and constructing a home. The Washburn County Sheriff’s Office received information in December 2019 that Block had failed to use the money to provide the work agreed upon.

The owner of the property informed Washburn County Sheriff’s Investigators that although funds had been provided to Block to pay subcontractors to complete work on the property, the subcontractors had not been paid.

Detailed records of the project were provided to Investigators including copies of draw requests and checks. Block’s financial records were also reviewed by Investigators and it was confirmed that Block had received funds totaling $56,800 from the property owner, however, the funds had not been distributed as indicated in the draw request proposals.

Block provided a handwritten listing of items on the project that he had allegedly issued payment for,  and also stated that he would provide further information to support his claims that all funds received from the property owner were used appropriately on the project, however, as of April 2020, Block had not given any additional supporting information to Investigators according to the criminal complaint.

In a statement to Investigators, the property owner said that when questioned about the financial issues on the project, Block said he was “really sorry about everything”, and that he wanted to “make things right”.


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Block is charged with Class G Felony Theft by Contractor >$10,000 - $100,000. If convicted as charged, Block faces a potential maximum sentence of 10 year confinement in prison, a maximum fine of $25, 000, or both.

Online circuit court records show that Block is scheduled to make an initial appearance on his criminal charges in June 2020.

Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Last Update: May 27, 2020 11:22 am CDT

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Crime & Court

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