A local handyman has been arrested, months after he allegedly stole $500 and a pond pump from an Ocala customer after agreeing to repair her fishpond.
In early July, Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence on SW 64th Court in Ocala in reference to a theft incident. A female homeowner/victim advised that she had hired a handyman, identified as 39-year-old James Deacon Jacks, to repair a fishpond at her residence, according to the arrest report.
An MCSO corporal noted in the report that the victim had previously hired a different contractor who had failed to complete the repairs. After one of the victim’s friends posted in a Facebook group about the unfinished work, a woman – identified as Jacks’ wife – responded to the message and offered to “help (the victim) salvage that mess.”
On Friday, May 30, at around 3:45 p.m., Jacks arrived at the victim’s home to look at the fishpond. The victim then agreed to pay Jacks $500 after the work was started, though he allegedly “took the money out of (the victim’s) hand” and said that he would go to a local store “right away (to) get the materials needed,” according to the report.
The victim told the corporal that as part of the agreement with Jacks, she also gave him a pond pump ($679 value) for him to fix. Jacks allegedly informed the victim that he would “start [the repairs] right away.”
However, the victim advised that as of Thursday, July 3, Jacks had not returned to her home to start the repairs.
The corporal made contact with Jacks over the phone, and Jacks claimed that he had “been trying to get in touch with (the victim)” to discuss the job. He claimed that the victim “had most of the materials,” and the only items missing were “approximately 47 cinder blocks and a pond liner,” according to the report.
Jacks initially claimed that the victim “knew it would take time to find the cinder blocks she wanted,” though the corporal mentioned in the report that Jacks eventually agreed that the cinder blocks “could be picked up locally with little issue.”
During an interview, Jacks allegedly agreed to refund the money to the victim once he got paid from another job. He told the corporal that he would “call (the victim) immediately” and “pay (her) back.”
A week later, the corporal followed up with the victim, who advised that Jacks had not refunded her money. In addition, Jacks allegedly still had the victim’s pond pump.
A warrant was issued, and Jacks was placed under arrest and booked into Marion County Jail on Tuesday, October 28. He remains in custody and is being charged with grand theft (over $750 but less than $5,000).
Jail records show that Jacks is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2.