Contractor Received $23,500 On A Project Police Say He Never Worked

POLK COUNTY, FL — A Lake Wales contractor is accused by police of not doing $23,500 worth of construction work at a Davenport home in 2021, a Polk County Sheriff's Office news release said.

Don "Stephen" Wildmon, 45, owner of Wildmon Construction, faces fraud and theft charges after a client paid $23,500 upfront for the requested construction work, deputies said.

He has bailed out of jail on two $5,000 bonds, according to the sheriff's office news release.

According to investigators, the victim hired Wildmon to add an addition to his Davenport home. The victim paid the requested amount of money at the signing of the contract on Feb. 12, 2021. This was half of the total cost of the project.

Work would be complete in 90 days, according to the contract, deputies said.

The contract said work would begin in April 2021, authorities said.

Following six months of no work done on the house, the victim notified deputies, according to investigators.

Detectives then contacted Wildmon and he agreed to pay $23,500 back to the client, deputies said.

The case was then closed.

As of Feb. 9, the victim had not received any money from Wildmon, detectives said.

The investigation then reopened and deputies arrested Wildmon when he turned himself in to the Polk County Sheriff's Office recently, deputies said.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, "Stephen Wildmon made no effort to do the work he was hired to do. The investigation showed that he didn’t even apply for a building permit until June of 2021, but didn’t get it because he didn’t pay for it. He did no work and made no effort to repay the victim. Thoroughly research anyone you plan to hire, it could save you big headaches and big money.”