Wichita contractor convicted of fraud to pay restitution, serve probation

A Wichita contractor and dry cleaning business owner was ordered Friday to serve five years of probation and pay $66,897.05 in restitution on fraud charges, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Four of Charles R. Thorpe II’s convictions stem from unfinished construction jobs already paid for by homeowners, and three resulted from loan fraud related to See Spot Go, of which Thorpe was part owner.

District Judge Steve Ternes on Friday ordered Thorpe to make $250 monthly payments toward the restitution amount for the duration of his probation, the district attorney’s office said in a news release.

Thorpe, at his sentencing hearing, told the judge he intended to repay the full amount. He pleaded guilty to seven felonies on Aug. 7.

Thorpe also has two prior convictions for home repair fraud in Gulfport, Miss., the district attorney’s office said.

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Wichita contractor convicted of fraud to pay restitution, serve probation."