Home Builder Arrested After He Called Police

Mark DeWeese, 47, called police Saturday afternoon after a dispute with a subcontractor who says DeWeese owes him money, according to Elon Police Lt. James Perry.

DeWeese was conducting an estate sale at 100 Eastgate Drive in Elon, Perry said.

When officers searched DeWeese's name, they discovered the Graham Police Department had a warrant out for his arrest.

DeWeese did not know about the warrant, Perry said.

According to the warrant, DeWeese allegedly accepted a $25,000 check from Thomas and Dawn Daniel to build a new house. DeWeese closed his business before starting construction and knew prior to accepting the check that his business was closing, according to the warrant. The incident happened in November 2008.

What is reaction from Empire Homes customers?

Michael Crisp said that situation is all too familiar.

"That sounds about like what he's been doing," Crisp said.

"It's like he knew he wasn't going to do anything, but it's like he was maybe trying to get money to get himself out of a jam or whatever," Crisp said.

Crisp said Empire Homes was supposed to have completed his house on NC Highway 62 North in Burlington last November.

"It wasn't even started on," he said.

Crisp said he is out $5,000, but he's found another builder to get his house done.

"At least he won't get nobody else's money out of it," he said.

"I am happy to see that Mark DeWeese was arrested and hopefully he will either serve time or pay back the people that he took money from," said Cheryl Loso, who contacted WFMY News 2 about Empire Homes.

She said Empire Homes built her house last year, and she is left with liens against her.

"During the building process, all of the employees that I met and worked with on construction had been let go or fired so I was left with a house that was 'almost' complete and no one to help me out with the last minute details," she said in an e-mail to WFMY News 2.

"Empire Homes did NOT pay for the cabinet contractor or the air conditioning contractors to the sum of about $12,000. And, it seems that I do not have a 10 year home warranty," she said.

What is status of Deweese and Empire Homes?

DeWeese is out of jail. His first appearance is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

WFMY News 2's Justin Quesinberry spoke with DeWeese at his Orange County house near Mebane Sunday. DeWeese declined to comment until talking with his attorney.

DeWeese is listed as "unemployed" on his arrest report. His company's website, empirehomesinc.com, is no longer active.

Susan Sullivan, complaint administrator with the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors, said DeWeese is not currently licensed.

He did not renew his license for Empire Homes for 2009. All licenses expire Dec. 31, Sullivan said.

Contractors must be licensed if their contracted to do a minimum of $30,000 of work, said Mark Selph, secretary-treasurer for the board.

WFMY News 2 checked with the US Bankrupty Court in the Middle District of North Carolina. The court had no record of bankruptcy filed by DeWeese.

What other complaints exist?

The last two complaints filed with the licensing board against DeWeese occured in 2004, Sullivan said.

WFMY News 2 investigated Empire Homes in January and found nearly a dozen liens against Deweese or his company.

If you have a similar story to share about Empire Homes, send an e-mail to: justinq@wfmy.com