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A North Wales man is facing nearly three-dozen felony charges in connection with an investigation by the Hatfield Township Police Department into deceptive business practices being utilized by a local contractor.
Paul Pauder, 60, of North Wales, has been charged with eight felony counts of deceptive business practices, seven felony counts of theft by deception, seven felony counts of receiving stolen property, six felony counts of making false statements to induce an agreement for home improvement services and six felony counts of receiving advanced payment for services and fails to perform, in connection with the multi-year investigation.
Bauder is the owner of Hatfield-based Paul Bauder Construction Inc., according to the criminal complaint.
The investigation began in November 2019, when a Hatfield Township resident approached police to report an issue they were having with a contractor, identified in the complaint as Bauder. The victim stated they had provided Bauder with $362,485 between July 2018 and August 2019 for a variety of work to their home, but the work was left incomplete and Bauder had ceased all communications with the victim, the report states.
The victim added that the work that was finished ended up failing inspection, and they had to hire a second contractor to finish all of the work that Bauder left unfinished, according to the complaint.
Investigators said an additional five victims in Hatfield Township came forward to express nearly-identical circumstances, in which Bauder accepted up-front payment then abandoned the unfinished projects and ceased to respond to communication efforts on behalf of the victims, according to the complaint.
In total, the six victims paid Bauder a combined $531,717, with none of the projects being completed, police said.
Investigators also spoke with one of Bauder’s former employees — a foreman who worked for Bauder for approximately two years — who told police that his crew would often begin large jobs, but Bauder would pull them from the jobs prior to completion and never send them back out to finish the work, the report states. The foreman also stated that he had paid Bauder $13,500 to purchase a Ford F250, however Bauder kept the both the money and the vehicle, police said.
A review of Bauder’s business bank accounts showed purchases at restaurants and credit card bills, as well as student loans, airport fees, out of state hotel accommodations, ski resorts, golf courses, gym memberships and a stock car racing experience, investigators said.
Bauder was arraigned on all charges on April 20 by Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine, who set bail at $50,000 unsecured. His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on April 28 at 1:30 a.m. in front of Judge Levine.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
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