Kane cops: Contractor ripped off customer

A McHenry County contractor surrendered to police Tuesday on charges he accepted $6,800 for a job he "never even started," authorities said.

Bond was set at $50,000 for Michael W. Fees, 48, of the 6100 block of Park Street in Union, who is charged with felony home repair fraud in Kane County.

According to the Kane County Sheriff's Office, Fees agreed on Sept. 11, 2008, to roof a house on the 48W600 block of Chandell Drive in unincorporated Hampshire Township. A woman there paid $6,800, but the job was never completed, police said.

"He never even started," Sheriff's Lt. Pat Gengler said. "She made contact with him a couple of times. He said he was going to be starting it, but it never happened."

The woman went to police in July, and an arrest warrant was issued Monday.

Fees was described as a contractor but it was unclear if he owned a business or operated independently. Gengler said he turned himself in Tuesday morning.

"This is the only case it appears we have against him," Gengler said.

On Tuesday afternoon, Fees was still listed in the Kane County jail, and there was no attorney listed for him in court filings.

Home repair fraud is a Class 4 felony with a standard sentencing range of probation or one to three years in prison. Fees is due in court Thursday.