PAPILLION, Neb. (KMTV) — Ross Sherwood, 60, pleaded guilty to seven counts of theft or attempted theft in Sarpy County District Court.
He took money from others to build decks but didn't do the work or only did a part of it from 2016-19. He also took money from other customers while he was out on bail.
Typically, contractor issues are civil disputes, but the Sarpy County Attorney’s Office says there was a clear pattern of criminal activity.
Frank Howard said he paid a third of a job upfront for building materials to Sherwood, but he later gave excuses about why the job never got started.
Howard said he checked his company which didn't show issues, but when he looked up Sherwood's name, he saw others had been scammed.
"We were real pleased with the City of Papillion, and Sarpy County that they pursued it at that level because it's the dollar amount, it's the number of times, it's recidivism action. He's continuing to do this action over and over and he needs to face the consequences for his actions," Howard explained.
Sherwood will be sentenced in April. He could get no jail time, probation, and/or a fine as a minimum. At the most he could be sentenced to about 33 years in prison.
He is currently at the Sarpy County Jail.
