Former Westmoreland man accused of taking $24K for Derry Township home remodel he didn't finish

A former Westmoreland County man was arrested Monday on charges of taking $24,000 from a Derry Township couple and failing to remodel their home, leaving it exposed to the elements for months, according to court papers.

Roy E. Povlik, 39, of Follansbee, W.Va., is charged with receiving an advance payment and failing to complete remodeling services along with two counts of theft. He is free on his own recognizance.

The Derry Township couple told Westmoreland County detectives they contracted with Povlik for an extensive home remodel that included a roof and siding replacement and an addition for $32,500.

They paid him $17,000 on Dec. 8. Povlik requested an additional $7,000 later in the month to order materials for the job, according to court papers. A contract states that the project would take approximately four to six weeks to finish, police said.

In June, detectives visited the home and reported that it appeared to be in the midst of construction. According to arrest papers, the roof and siding had been removed, and there were numerous stains inside from water leaks.

Part of the roof was covered by plastic sheeting, and the unfinished sides of the structure were protected only by plastic, police said. Tools were strewn about the backyard, and a new porch was not constructed to code, according to court papers.

The couple told police Povlik showed up to work at their home sporadically and hadn’t been there in a month. When contacted by detectives, he refused to refund them their money, according to arrest papers.

A GoFundMe page was set up to help them finish their home.

Povlik could not be reached. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25.

He is awaiting court action on similar charges filed by Fayette County detectives stemming from a July 2019 incident.

Povlik was ordered to pay $2,230 to an Ohio woman in 2019 after a civil action hearing at a Hempfield district court, according to online court records. Another civil case filed earlier this month at an Allegheny County district court seeks $4,000 from Povlik. A civil action hearing is set for Sept. 21.