Another name has been added to the list of area contractors who are facing criminal charges for taking customer’s money but doing no work.
In the latest case, 41-year-old Jessica Trivitt, who is listed as the owner of Southern Pool Company, was paid almost $57,000 as a down payment on a project to construct a 16×40 in-ground pool at the victim’s residence along Riverview Drive in Norfork, but no work was ever done.
Through her attorney, Bobby Digby of Benton, Trivitt has entered a not guilty plea to the charges against her. She was ordered to reappear April 23.
Under provisions of the contract drawn up for the Norfork job, following the down payment, the customer was to make payments of $17,250 when various phases of construction were completed. The first was payable when ground had been excavated, another when the pool was set in place and another when the plumbing and backfill work was completed.
The contract was entered into in early July last year, called for a final payment of almost $5,200 once the pool was filled with water and allowed to circulate for two days. The total cost of the pool was listed as almost $114,000.
When work did not start, the victim told investigators with the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office that he had attempted to talk with Trivitt by phone dozens of times but had been unsuccessful in reaching her. His calls were either unanswered or messages left asking for a call back were ignored.
He said when he did finally manage to talk to her in person at Southern Pool Company on one occasion, he only heard “excuses” as to why no progress had been made on the pool project at his home.
At the time he spoke with investigators with the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, no equipment had even been delivered to his property.
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