Monday, January 19, 2009

Financially Strapped Builder Charged With Stripping Appliances From Unsold Homes Encumbered By Bank Lien

In Gloucester, Virginia, the Daily Press reports:
  • Embattled Gloucester developer George Woodhouse was arrested on charges of grand larceny Tuesday, less than a month before he is due in court to answer to 10 felony counts of forgery.(1)

  • Woodhouse, 39, of Hayes, was charged with grand larceny in connection with a Dec. 22 incident at Dunston Hall, one of several unfinished housing subdivisions planned by Woodhouse in Gloucester. Several items, including microwaves and ceiling fans, were removed from two unoccupied houses, said Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Hicks.

  • The items, as well as 17 lots at Dunston Hall, are subject to a lien filed by EVB bank against Dunwood Holdings, a company formed by Woodhouse and his wife, Abigail. The bank won a $7 million judgment in September against Dunwood and since has been foreclosing on company assets. S. Miles Dumville, a Richmond attorney representing EVB, said the bank has yet to foreclose on Dunston Hall properties. Dumville contends that no one is allowed to remove items from the houses because of the lien.

For more, see Embattled developer charged with larceny (George Woodhouse is accused of taking items subject to a lien from two unoccupied houses).

Go here for other posts on pre-foreclosure homeowner fixture stripping.

(1) A special grand jury in July charged him with forging five certificates of occupancy, actions that resulted in 10 felonies. The documents allowed Woodhouse to close on the sales of houses and receive money from his lender, EVB Mortgage, before the county would have issued real certificates. See Forgery trial for Gloucester developer scheduled for Feb. foreclosure fixture stripping apple