A West Deer man is accused of stealing nearly $2,000 that he charged a client upfront to buy tires and other parts needed to work on the client’s truck.

Camaron James Harris, 34, of the 1000 block of Deer Creek Road was charged by West Deer police with felony counts of theft by deception and theft. He was released from custody on a nonmonetary bond and ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Tom Swan on Oct. 11.

On Sept. 18, a man reported to police that between Dec. 18 and March 26 he made five payments to Harris totaling $1,948 for tires, a brake kit and other truck parts, according to a criminal complaint.

The man gave police copies of text messages they exchanged in which Harris said he was ordering the parts through the tire shop where he worked so he could get the company discount and not have to pay taxes on the items, the complaint said.

Harris informed the man via text message March 17 that he was planning to leave his job at the tire shop and would be working at a garage in Butler County owned by a family member, police said.

The man told investigators that Harris never ordered the parts and did not do any work on the vehicle, according to the complaint.

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