A Hot Springs man was sentenced to four years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to duping a local couple out of more than $3,000 with a landscaping scam last year.
Richard Douglas Hyatt, 60, who lists a Jessica Lane address, appeared in Garland County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft of property more than $1,000, punishable by up to six years in prison. In addition to prison time, he was ordered to pay $3,350 in restitution to the victims and $170 in court costs.
According to the affidavit, on Sept. 9, 2016, a local man filed a theft report with Garland County sheriff's investigators stating he had a business agreement with Hyatt who represented himself to be the owner of "Beauty of Nature Landscaping, Irrigation and Maintenance."
The agreement was signed Aug. 15, 2016, for some landscaping work to be done with a total cost of $7,714.84. The victim made an up front payment of $3,350 for materials and equipment. The check was later cashed by Hyatt.
Hyatt never came to the victim's residence to begin or complete the agreed upon work and it was later determined Hyatt had listed a false address on his business card. Hyatt later changed his phone number and the victim was unable to make contact with him again.
On Oct. 4, 2016, the victim and his wife came to the sheriff's department and positively identified Hyatt out of a photo lineup shown to them by investigators. A warrant was issued for Hyatt's arrest and he was taken into custody on Dec. 6, 2016, and later released on $7,500 bond.
He was arrested again on March 29, 2017, after failing to appear at a scheduled hearing and had remained in custody since then on zero bond. A previously convicted felon, a parole hold was also placed on Hyatt.
• A Sheridan man pleaded guilty Monday in circuit court to felony charges stemming from a 2015 vehicle break-in after DNA from blood at the scene was matched to him last year.
Jacob Lee Edens, 30, who is classified as a habitual offender, pleaded guilty to breaking or entering and theft of property more than $1,000 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison on each count, with the entire sentence suspended.
Edens was also fined a total of $2,000 and ordered to pay $1,250 in restitution to the victim and $170 in court costs.
He was previously convicted in 2009 in Crawford County of endangering the welfare of a minor; in 2010 of criminal attempt at residential burglary; and in 2015 of possession of a firearm by certain persons and theft by receiving of a firearm, all in Grant County.
According to the affidavit, on Feb. 21, 2015, a local man reported a 2002 Ford F-350 pickup belonging to his employer, Collins and Hermann Inc., was broken into while parked at 835 Central Ave. The driver's side window was broken out to gain entry and a 9-mm pistol, sunglasses and a toolbox with miscellaneous tools were taken, with a total value of $800 and $250 in damages.
Hot Springs police Officer John Hammons noted blood on the exterior driver's door and on a piece of paper in the center console. He took swabs of blood from both locations and submitted them to the state crime lab in Little Rock.
On May 19, 2015, the crime lab reported DNA obtained from the blood swabs was matched to Edens. A warrant was issued and he was taken into custody on July 14, 2016, and later released on $2,500. He was arrested again June 12, 2017, after failing to appear at a scheduled hearing and had remained in custody since then.
Local on 06/27/2017