Feb 7, 2018 2 min read

A North Franklin Township contractor charged by two police departments with stealing money from clients waived his case to court Tuesday.

Gerald Allen Gregg, 53, of 670 Cleveland Road, had been scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Jesse Pettit.

Gregg was charged last week by Peters Township police with theft by deception and deceptive business practices. He was charged in December by Monongahela police with theft by deception.

Peters police said a couple reported last month that they were having ongoing problems with Gregg, with whom they contracted in May to do driveway work at their Center Church Road home. The two parties reportedly agreed on a price, and Gregg was to start the work around Labor Day.

Police said Gregg received $2,000 from the couple in August to purchase a grate and another $2,500 check Sept. 10. He reportedly told the couple he would be starting the work in about two weeks.

The couple told police after giving Gregg a third check for $6,500, they were having difficulty contacting him. No work was done by Oct. 31, and Gregg started making excuses for the delay, according to court paperwork.

In November, the couple sent Gregg a certified letter to terminate the agreement and request repayment of $11,000. The letter was returned as “unable to reach sender.”Police contacted Gregg, who reportedly gave a detective the same excuses for the lack of work and advised he was unable to repay the couple.

Monongahela police filed the theft charge after a Union Township woman reported she had paid Gregg $750 as a partial payment to power wash and seal her driveway and sidewalks at her Union Street home in September. She told Gregg she would pay the balance when the work was done.

Gregg reportedly cashed the check the same day. The woman told police she tried to contact Gregg several times, but he either did not respond or had someone else call with an excuse.

Gregg will be formally arraigned on the charges April 30.