Theodore Barrett sentenced to four years

A man who stole more than $90,000 from an elderly couple was sentenced to four years in prison followed by one year of probation and ordered to pay over $100,000 in fines.  Theodore Barrett entered a Sussex County Superior Courtroom July 8, dressed in a white Department of Corrections jumpsuit, escorted by two police officers.

As he stood before Judge T. Henley Graves, Barrett, 39, offered a final apology.  “Again, I’m sorry for what’s happened here,” Barrett said.

Barrett was found guilty of three counts of felony theft, attempted felony theft and offering a false instrument for filing, a misdemeanor, on June 16, after a three-day jury trial.  Barrett obtained more than $90,000 from Terrance and Barbara Bond, an elderly couple, to renovate and expand their South Bethany home.

Terrance Bond told Graves the two years of his life Barrett stole are more important than money.  Bond noted that he, Graves and Defense attorney Stephen Callaway all graduated high school in 1966.  “Each and every day at our age is precious; it’s priceless,” Bond said.  Prior to sentencing, Bond submitted a Victim’s Impact Statement, detailing he and his wife’s financial loss.

Barrett was President of Beachside Builders, on Destination Drive in West Fenwick Island.  The company, established in 1988, advertises renovations and custom home designs.  Beachside Builders is now for sale.

An investigation revealed Barrett took the Bonds on a tour of a waterfront home in West Ocean City, which he claimed was his home, built by Beachside Builders.  The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit later determined the home did not belong to Barrett and another company had built it.

The Bonds filed a complaint against Barrett after he began renovations on their home, then stopped before the work was complete.  Graves said he estimated Barrett completed about $15,000 to $20,000 worth of work on the Bonds’ home.  “What happened to the rest of the money?” Graves asked.

“Just the house and my living expenses,” Barrett said.

“You don’t have a cent to show for the ninety-some thousand dollars they gave you,” Graves said.  “I doubt the Bonds are ever going to see anything.”

Graves ordered Barrett to repay the Bonds’ investment in their home, along with the couple’s legal fees and travel expenses, totaling more than $100,000.  He also ordered Barrett to make no contact with the Bonds.  “I think you are a crook,” Graves said.  “They jury said it, I can say it.”

As Graves read the sentencing, Prosecutor Michael Undorf turned to look at Terrance Bond, who was sitting in the front row of the gallery, and gave him a nod.