Bristol Painter Who Stole From Customers Headed To Jail

BRISTOL, PA — A painting contractor from Bristol who admitted that he stole from customers is headed to prison. George Spooner, 43, was sentenced Tuesday to serve four to 12 years in state prison, according to information from the Bucks County District Attorney's office.

Spooner, who pleaded guilty to theft and fraud related charges, stole from one customer and pocketed large deposits from two others. He also had an "extensive" record of theft-related crimes, the District Attorney said.

Authorities say Spooner used a spare key to burglarize the home of a Doylestown Township customer. During the February 2015 incident, he stole the woman's Apple Mac Book Pro, checkbook, jewelry box and several items of jewelry that he later pawned.

He then forged the woman's signature on one of the checks he had stolen and cashing it for $3,860 at a Wells Fargo Bank in March 2015.

After being charged with those crimes, Spooner victimized two more customers while out on bail and awaiting trial, authorities said.

In May 2016, a Newtown Township resident gave Spooner a deposit check for $2,800 toward painting his residence. Spooner never showed up on the agreed-upon job date, told the victim he couldn't do the work, and never returned the deposit money, authorities said.

In August 2016, Spooner pocketed a $5,787.50 deposit from a Bensalem woman for residential painting and mold removal. He told the woman he was taking a material sample to be tested for mold and never returned or refunded the deposit, authorities said.