Across Comal and Bexar counties, a familiar story is playing out on back patios and in neighborhood group chats: half-built decks, wobbly posts and homeowners thousands of dollars lighter after hiring the same contractor. Neighbors in Canyon Lake and Converse say they handed over big deposits, watched a flurry of initial activity, then wound up staring at construction hazards instead of finished outdoor spaces.
Big Deposits, Barely Any Deck
In Converse, Shantel Brown says she paid roughly $5,200 in 2024 for a back deck and patio cover that was never completed. In Canyon Lake, Diane Michelle Brosnan told investigators she put $3,400 toward a $6,600 deck-and-awning job and ended up with her old deck torn down and off-center support posts that created a falling hazard.
Another homeowner, Mason Weems, said he paid $2,500 for a deck extension and metal roof and got about $270 worth of materials before the contractor "ghosted" him. Those details, along with the fact that the contractor is on felony probation in both Bexar and Hays counties and that his north San Antonio home was evicted last summer, were reported by KSAT.
Long Rap Sheet, Same Old Playbook
The contractor’s name is not new to local courts or crime reporters. Since 2014, he has been charged repeatedly with theft and was eventually sentenced to four years in jail for multiple theft convictions, according to reporting by the San Antonio Express-News.
Victims and prosecutors have described a pattern in which he cycles through different business names and sometimes presents himself as a law-enforcement officer or a veteran to land jobs. Neighbors looking at their unfinished decks say the latest complaints feel like a rerun of that history, just with new addresses and the same ending.
Police Call It Civil, Homeowners Call It A Headache
Several homeowners told reporters that when they reached out to law enforcement, deputies often advised them to take the matter to civil court rather than pursue criminal charges. In the words of KSAT, the cases were frequently treated as "a civil matter."
That kind of guidance has left many residents scrambling to draft small-claims filings, send demand letters and seek mediation, all while half-finished decks sit exposed to the weather. The legal homework piles up right alongside the lumber.
What The Law Could Do
Because the contractor is already on felony probation in multiple counties and has prior theft convictions, any new criminal charges could bring enhanced penalties and open the door to restitution orders for victims. Prosecutors can file theft charges when the evidence supports them, but in practice many homeowners still end up chasing civil judgments to recover what it costs to fix or finish the work.
What Homeowners Are Doing Now
People who say they were scammed have started putting their complaints in writing: sending demand letters, filing formal grievances and posting warnings in neighborhood social media groups. A few report getting partial refunds through Cash App or installment payments, though many say they still need to hire other contractors to repair or complete the jobs.
Officials advise homeowners to keep copies of contracts, receipts and photographs of any unfinished or unsafe work when pursuing legal remedies. Reporters say they contacted the contractor for comment but did not receive a response to multiple requests, and prosecutors have not announced any new charges tied to the recent Comal and Converse cases. For now, residents are paying out of pocket to stabilize decks and replace roofs while they wait to see whether law enforcement will escalate to more serious criminal cases or courts will ultimately order restitution.
