Belleville Contractors Get 250 Days in Jail

Jason and David Hicks, operating as Sunrooms Plus, were sentenced to 130 days and 120 days respectively in Belleville court on November 5, 2009 for violations of Ontario's Consumer Protection Act.

Both men were charged under the Consumer Protection Act after the ministry received complaints from six consumers who entered into contracts to construct sunrooms and garages on their Belleville properties.  The consumers paid deposits ranging from $2,000 to $12,000 each.  Little or no work was performed as contracted.

The Hickses were convicted of offences including engaging in an unfair practice, failure to deliver a valid direct sales contract and failure to refund a consumer within 15 days.  Upon completion of their jail terms, both men will complete a 24-month term of probation with several conditions including an order that they not commit the same offence or any related or similar offence.  The court ordered the two men to pay a total of $37,491.20 in restitution to consumers.