A Woodland man sentenced to nine years in prison for targeting an elderly Vancouver woman in a home repair scam was sentenced Friday in similar scams to nearly two years in prison. His sentences will run concurrently, however.
Chris McNicholas, 46, pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court in the separate case to second-degree theft, three counts of first-degree criminal impersonation and two counts of third-degree theft, court records show. One count of residential burglary was dismissed as part of a plea deal.
McNicholas was previously found guilty by a jury in the separate case of bilking an 88-year-old Vancouver woman of more than $52,000. He was convicted of nine counts of forgery and one count each of first-degree identity theft and first-degree theft. He pleaded guilty to being an unlicensed contractor, a gross misdemeanor. The jury also found aggravating factors, based on the victim’s vulnerability and for the crime being a major economic offense, which led to his lengthy sentence.
In all of the cases, he represented himself to be with non-existent businesses and sold services he never honored.
In this case, McNicholas scammed two women who are in their 80s and a man in his 60s, a separate probable cause affidavit shows.
He called an 86-year-old Vancouver woman several times saying she had an outstanding balance from work performed on her house. In November 2014, McNicholas showed up at her house, forced his way inside and refused to leave until she paid him. The victim eventually gave him $60 in cash and a $300 check. He left but returned a few days later demanding more money, the affidavit states.
McNicholas reportedly told authorities the check was for a warranty and denied getting any cash, court records said.
Then, an 87-year-old Vancouver woman reported that the seals on the windows she had replaced in 2008 or 2009 broke so she called the company that installed them. McNicholas contacted her and said it would be $300 to fix. He also reportedly asked if she lived alone, was a widow and if anyone else handled her finances, according to court documents.
The victim agreed to pay McNicholas $50, but he later came to her house and demanded $150. She complied. He never returned to do the work, the affidavit said.
A 61-year-old Vancouver man reported that he had his roof replaced a few years ago, and McNicholas showed up at his house, unannounced, in November 2014, stating he needed to check the roof. He then talked the victim into getting his stairwell completed. The victim gave McNicholas $200 in cash, court records said.
An employee came out the next day but said he needed $1,300 before he could start the work. The victim gave him the money, which he then in turn gave to McNicholas. No one returned to do the work, according to court documents.
McNicholas is also facing felony charges in four similar Cowlitz County cases, all of which involve elderly victims.
