New Eagle funeral home director charged with writing bad checks
A New Eagle funeral home director is facing criminal charges over alleged bad checks written to a local automotive garage for vehicle repair.
Earlier this month, charges of theft of services and bad checks were filed against William A. Bautz, 44, of New Eagle by Monongahela City Police before Magisterial District Judge Mark Wilson.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police were alerted by Corey Behanna of Behanna Auto and Tire in Monongahela on Feb. 9 that he received a bad check from Bautz in the amount of $2,661.50 for vehicle repairs in November.
The check was returned for the reason of “unable to locate account” under “William A. Bautz Funeral Home”, and Behanna informed police that he made several attempts to contact Bautz, whom Behanna said did not answer the phone or return messages.
Police contacted Bautz, who then arrived at the police station on Feb. 12 and said he contacted Behanna and would pay him $800 on Thursday and the remaining balance the following Friday, but Behanna told police that Bautz never called or left a message.
Behanna agreed that Bautz could go to the auto garage and work out a payment plan to avoid filing charges against Bautz, but the complaint states a few days later when police went to see Behanna to find out if things were worked out, Behanna said they weren’t.
Behanna said that Bautz arrived at the garage with papers that stated how the payment plan would work, but Behanna informed Bautz that he didn’t agree to it because he wanted to discuss a payment plan with Bautz and not have Bautz demand setting up the payments his way without discussion.
Police contacted Bautz again to try and settle the matter or charges will be filed, but Bautz never answered the phone or returned messages as of April 3.
A summons has been issued for Bautz to appear for a preliminary hearing on May 2 before Wilson.