LEWISBURG, Tenn. (WTVF) — A subcontractor's dad was arrested for allegedly stealing more than $60,000 worth of items from a home.
Kimberly Stoltz had no idea that getting new hardwood floors through R & S Flooring in Cool Springs would turn into a nightmare.
"If you don't know the people they send to someone's home, that's a scary scenario," Stoltz said, "You hire them, you think they're a good company, and then in actuality they don't really know who they send to your home."
Larry Temes faces felony theft charges. He's been accused of taking sentimental jewelry, keepsakes, and other items of value from the family's Lewisburg home. According to R & S Flooring, Temes' son is as a subcontractor who was hired to work on the home. Temes is a convicted felon with a rap sheet that includes reckless homicide and aggravated burglary.
"A ring he bought me in St. Thomas gone," Stoltz said, "I just loved it, I wore it all the time."
She said R & S Flooring recommended they do the work while she was on vacation. Now, she regrets that decision.
"I had chemotherapy, and I'm sensitive to smell, so it all made sense to me," Stoltz said.
According to a report, Temes told a detective, 'the gun and several pieces of jewelry went to my heroin dealer.' "He didn't deny it, he lead them to finding several things," Stoltz said.
After some of the items were recovered at area pawn shops, Stoltz realized some of the items didn't belong to them, so she fears there could be more victims. "And that is alarming to me," Stolz said, "because there could be someone out there right now that has no idea that he took things from their home as well."
R & S Flooring said they do background checks. They issued a statement:
"We've been doing business in Middle Tennessee for 28 years because our customer's safety and satisfaction have always been our paramount concern. Despite this unfortunate situation we will continue to stay committed to ensuring that each customer has a safe and pleasant experience. We are working with all parties involved to bring this to a quick and amicable close while this case is currently still pending litigation."
The subcontractor has been fired from R & S Flooring. Larry Temes is behind bars in Marshall County awaiting trial.
