Contractor Pleads Guilty to Reduced Charges for Theft in Business Setting

A Contractor plead guilty to reduced charges in Rock County Court Tuesday after he left clients to pay tens of thousands of dollars in bills from subcontractors. Thomas Mastin was doing business as Timberland Builders when he committed the offenses. He was charged with three felony counts of theft in a business setting but they were reduced to three counts of misdemeanor theft in a plea agreement. Mastin did say he didn’t benefit financially from the dealings, he said he paid himself $2500 dollars in 2018 and 2019 and that he’d put $100 thousand of his own money to keep the business going. The homeowners however did have liens placed on their properties for bills from subcontractors that went unpaid on Mastin’s projects. Mastin was sentenced to two years probation in large part because he paid back the $115 thousand he owed the homeowners. Mastin must also complete any assessments or treatment the department of corrections asks for while on probation and he must pay court costs.