A Jefferson Township couple is out almost $10,000 after paying for stone and siding work on their home that was never completed, according to Butler County detectives.

Larry E. Wing, 41, owner of L.W. Contracting, was charged Tuesday, Aug. 11, with felony receiving advance payment and failing to perform work, and misdemeanor theft following the alleged incident.

Police said the couple paid Wing $9,835 on Dec. 29 and had no communication with him until May 7, when Wing said he would be delivering the materials for the job in the next few days.

On May 22, Wing told the couple he would be returning the materials and issuing them a refund, detectives said. A woman also offered to retrieve the materials from Wing and pay for extra material, according to detectives, but Wing did not respond. Police said the couple still did not hear from Wing, despite attempts to contact him.

Wing’s preliminary hearing has not been scheduled.

According to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office, Wing received the same charges Aug. 6 related to a separate job in which he’s accused of collecting advance payment and failing to perform work.

In that instance, Wing allegedly was paid $13,346 to complete two remodeling projects in Westmoreland County. Detectives said they attempted to contact Wing several times and were successful in May, which is when Wing said he had began a new project and would pay the old client back when he finished the new project.

The office said Wing was told to set up a payment plan in a Westmoreland County magistrate’s office to reimburse the victims after a lawsuit was filed, but Wing has not made the payments.

Wing’s attorney, James Geibig, said circumstances, such as employees leaving the company, contributed to his client’s circumstances. Wing has made arrangements to be arraigned in Butler County and intends to make good on it, he said.

“Larry has a good reputation,” Geibig said. “He did get behind due to things out of his control, but he’s looking to make good on it.”.

Wing’s preliminary hearing in the Westmoreland County case is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Aug. 24 before District Judge Tamara J. Mahady.