Chattanoogan.com Sept 28, 2005, Sept 29, 2005

Freeman Sentenced For Bilking Cabinet Customers
posted September 28, 2005

A cabinet maker authorities say bilked a large number of people out of money entered guilty pleas in Criminal Court on Wednesday morning.

David Freeman, 50, appeared before Judge Rebecca Stern.

He was given sentences totaling 16 years, but he will be released after serving 180 days.

Prosecutor Boyd Patterson said Freeman will be required to pay back those he owes. He said if he does not pay, then he will have to serve the entire 16 years.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of felonious misapplication of contract payments and three counts of theft over $1,000.

Prosecutor Patterson said a number of people in Hamilton County as well as nearby counties and in other states were put in financial jeopardy due to Freeman promising cabinets, then keeping the money without delivering the cabinets.

He said Freeman has entered pleas in Rhea and Sequatchie counties and will be taken to Georgia next.

Family members praised the work of Channel 9 consumer reporter Calvin Sneed for helping to identify victims of the fraud.

Email this to a friend

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_73317.asp


David Freeman & Clay Moerland ConsumerWatch Updates
Comments | Recommend
September 29, 2005 6:04 PM
Calvin Sneed
A former cabinet salesman is still cooling his heels in the Hamilton County Jail..

Yesterday, David Freeman pleaded guilty to taking money for cabinets, and never delivering those cabinets to customers..

Turns out, Freeman had a date in court TODAY in Catoosa County, Georgia for allegedly doing the same thing there, too.

He's charged with theft by deception and theft by conversion.

"A bench warrant was issued for his arrest by the judge," said Len Gregor, Assistant District Attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial District, "if Mr. Freeman is in custody somewhere else, that will act as a hold so we can get our hands on Mr. Freeman in the future."

The Catoosa County Criminal Court also has a warrant out for Clay Moerland, who's charged with theft of a backhoe from a Ringgold business.. he was first brought to our attention, when a homeowner CALLED CALVIN, saying Moerland, who was a building contractor, installed the siding on her home upside down and backwards..

Moerland is in the Rhea County Jail charged with possession of meth and drug paraphernalia..

http://www.newschannel9.com/articles/freeman-2206-county-moerland.html