The owner of a Knoxville home repair business pleaded not guilty Monday afternoon to charges including counts of aggravated home repair fraud.
43-year-old Jeremy Garett, the owner of Garrett’s Glass attended his preliminary hearing after being charged in July.
After testimony from Galesburg Police Detective Allison Buccalo Judge James Standard found enough cause existed for the case to move forward.
Garrett then entered a not-guilty plea and demanded a jury trial.
His next court date is a pre-trial hearing set for Jan. 8 at 9 a.m.
Detective Buccalo said in court that she spoke with several former customers of Garrett’s Glass who had accounts of Garrett overcharging them and sometimes not doing work he was contracted to do.
State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin focused on three alleged victims
Detectives also found that Garrett’s work often didn’t meet codes and regulations.
Garrett’s attorney Scott McClintock questioned Buccalo on how she determined that work wasn’t as contracted or wasn’t not up to code.
Buccalo says she largely relied on the expertise of local contractors, like Howe’s Overhead Doors, and the city’s building inspector.
She says that Garrett’s work included violations for not having a permit, violating the electrical code, notches cut in the ceiling door, and allowing non-treated wood to touch concrete.
Buccalo says she did not speak with Garrett during the investigation.
Garrett previously pleaded guilty to felony home theft in Champaign County in 2017 and was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
