Contractor w/ History Of Getting Caught Bilking Homeowners Gets Bagged Again On Theft By Deception Conviction For Taking $22K From Couple For Work He Never Performed; Jury Nixes Defendant's Testimony That He Didn't Mean To Steal Any Money, Blaming Problems On Change In His Business Financing Arrangements

In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, WHTM-TV Channel 27 reports:

• A home improvement contractor has been convicted by a jury of a taking $22,000 from a Dauphin County couple for work he never performed.
  
  Robert A. Kolovich, 59, of Northumberland, was found guilty in Dauphin County Court of two counts of theft by deception.
  
  District Attorney Ed Marsico’s office said Kolovic was doing business as Lifetime Choice Deck Fitters when he promised a Swatara Township couple a new vinyl deck cover and other improvements. He took their money but did no work and gave no refund.
  
  He also bilked a Lower Paxton Township couple out of $2,550, authorities said.
  
  Kolovic has convictions for similar frauds in Mifflin, Bedford and Snyder counties.
  
  He also faced charges in Luzerne, Northumberland, Lycoming, Tioga, Susquehanna, Sullivan and York counties. Marsico’s office said some of those charges were resolved when the victims received payments.
  
  Kolovich claimed at trial that he didn’t intend to steal anyone’s money. He said his business problems resulted from a change in his financing arrangement with a business loan company.

Source: Contractor convicted of theft in home improvement scheme.