A Delmont business owner is being charged with failing to perform services after he was allegedly paid $15,000 in advance for installation of a new fence.

Jesse J. Mengel, 43, of Delmont, was charged with felony receiving advance payment for services and failing to perform, as well as felony deceptive business practices, in relation to a contract between Spring Valley Fence Company and a Middlesex Township resident.

Mengel is listed as the founder and owner of Spring Valley Fence Company on its website.

According to Middlesex Township police, a man reported he made a verbal contract with Mengel on March 25 for a fence project quoted at $36,637.20. The man told police he made an initial down payment of $15,000 on March 29.

Police said the man reached out to Mengel on May 18 inquiring about when work would begin and he received no response. He made more attempts to contact Mengel June 1, June 24 and June 25. The man told police he asked Spring Valley Fence Company for a refund July 14. Police said he never received a response from any of his emails.

Police said the man contacted his lawyer, who wrote and sent the company a letter of demand for a refund. The company did not respond within 14 days, police said.

Mengel’s preliminary hearing has yet to be scheduled.