- Hunter McKay Bennett, 22, is charged with fraud and theft in Utah.
- Bennett allegedly took money for landscaping projects without intending to complete them.
- He faces multiple felony charges for similar actions in other cases.
SOUTH JORDAN — A Bluffdale landscaper was charged Thursday with taking money for projects with no intention of finishing them.
Hunter McKay Bennett, 22, is charged in 3rd District Court with communications fraud, theft by deception and engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity, second-degree felonies; and doing business without a license, a class B misdemeanor.
Bennett, who worked for Rockpoint Landscaping, was hired by a South Jordan resident in November to "complete a landscaping project valued at $46,800," according to charging documents. "(The victim) reported that when the deadlines outlined in the contract and in communications passed and Bennett still did not show up to complete the work, (the victim) kept trying to text him and found that Bennett had blocked his phone number."
The victim said he had already paid Bennett $23,400.
The police detective assigned to the case discovered that "this is continuous behavior" for Bennett, who has had reports filed against him in at least three other cases, the charges allege.
In June, he was charged with engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity, a second-degree felony; plus theft by deception and communications fraud, third-degree felonies. In that case, Bennett is accused of taking nearly $2,500 from a Herriman homeowner for a landscaping project but not completing the work or offering a refund.
The victim says she received a text message from Bennett in June "stating that he went out of business (and) that he was unable to complete the job," according to charging documents. Police investigating the case soon discovered that "Bennett had established a scheme of accepting money under the pretense of providing contract or landscaping work without any intention of completing the work or returning the money. (Police) spoke with Bennett, who stated that he had no intentions of completing the work or of refunding (the victim's) deposit."
