An Arkansas man was sentenced to four years in prison Monday after he pleaded guilty to scamming a couple out of thousands of dollars for a landscaping job he never did, the Hot Springs Sentinel-Record reported.
Richard Douglas Hyatt, 60, of Hot Springs reportedly pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft of property in Garland County Circuit Court.
According to an affidavit cited by the paper, on Sept. 9, 2016, a man filed a report with the Garland County sheriff's office saying he had an agreement with Hyatt, who said he owned a company called Beauty of Nature Landscaping, Irrigation and Maintenance.
The man paid Hyatt $3,350 for materials and equipment to do a landscaping job at a total cost of about $7,700, the paper reported.
Hyatt cashed the check but never did any work, officials said. He reportedly changed his phone number and listed a false address on his business card.
The man and his wife identified Hyatt out of a photo lineup as the man who scammed them.
Hyatt was arrested on a warrant in December but was released on bail. He was later jailed in March after failing to appear at a scheduled hearing.
In court Monday, Hyatt was also ordered to pay $3,350 in restitution to the victims.
Click here to read the full story in the Sentinel-Record.
