Bear Valley police log: Contractor sting; mama deer shot, fawns sought

Using an empty home in Bear Valley Springs in a sting operation, the Contractors State License Board’s fraud team cited nine individuals suspected of violating state contracting laws on Aug. 27, 2015.

According to a board press release, the Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) discovered that of the nine individuals, “one had an active $110,000 felony warrant, another was on probation for prior illegal contracting charges, one suspect was driving with a suspended driver license and another had no [driver] license] at all.”

The Bear Valley Police Department and the Kern County District Attorney’s office assisted in the operation.

SWIFT investigators, the report said, “posing as owners of a single-family home near Bear Valley Park, used Craigslist, local newspapers and Yellow Page advertisements to scout suspected illegal operators to place bids for concrete, garage door, plumbing, painting and masonry projects. Bids ranged from $1,900 to $6,250, but a state-issued contractor license is required for any home improvement job that is $500 or more in combined labor and material costs.

The nine suspects were cited for misdemeanor charges of contracting without a license and illegal advertising. Five had no workers’ compensation insurance. Six of those cited are from Bakersfield, one is from Lancaster, one is from Rosamond and one is from Bear Valley Springs.

The Contractors State License Board warns consumers to take precautions when hiring a contractor. See the board’s web site for more information.

Make sure the contractor is licensed, shop around before hiring a contractor, ask for personal recommendations, verify the contractor’s business location and telephone number, verify the contractor’s workers’ compensation and commercial general liability insurance coverage.

Bear Valley Police Chief Jeff Kermode reported the arrest Sept. 9 of a man who lives on Lakeview Drive for negligent discharge of a firearm and Fish & Game Code misdemeanors. Billy Dean, 73, is charged with shooting a female deer from his balcony toward the street in the direction of several homes and where a child had been playing prior to the shot. Two young fawns were nearby. Kermode said Dean and his wife were frustrated over the deer eating apples from their trees. A wildlife rescue organization was called in to help find the fawns, who left the scene. Efforts to capture the fawns had been unsuccessful as of press time Sept. 11. Kermode said the fawns still had white spots but they might be old enough to survive.