Reardons plead not guilty to theft charges during arraignment; trial set for April 1

QUINCY — A husband and wife who formerly owned a Quincy business and now face two theft charges pled not guilty during their arraignment Tuesday afternoon, and they have an April trial date.

Andy P. Reardon, 58, and Michelle M. Reardon, 52, of Spring Hill, Fla., appeared before Judge Tad Brenner in Adams County Circuit Court with St. Louis attorney Justin Summary. Both have been charged with two counts of theft by deception — one for between $10,000 and $100,000, a Class 2 felony, and one for between $500 and $10,000, a Class 3 felony.

Theft of more than $10,000 is a Class 2 felony, punishable for between three and seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Theft of more than $500 is a Class 3 felony, punishable for between two and five years in prison.

A status hearing for the couple was set for March 5. A trial date was set for April 1.

The Reardons owned Backyard Adventures Pools and Spas, 1800 Broadway, in Quincy. A Dec. 8, 2021, story in Muddy River News detailed multiple complaints filed by dissatisfied customers against the business for shoddy work for the installation of pools and spas.

The Reardons were arrested and booked in the early-morning hours of Sept. 27 by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Department in Brooksville, Fla., on an Illinois warrant. Both were released the following day, and both posted $1,000 bond on Oct. 4.

An Adams County grand jury indicted the Reardons on Sept. 7 on the two charges of theft. Each count said the Reardons “knowingly obtained by deception control” over property — belonging to owner Melissa Drew on or about Nov. 22, 2021, in the first count and owners Stephen and Debra Kraus on or about Dec. 1, 2021, in the second count. The Reardons allegedly took money from Drew and the Krauses and deceived them of what they were supposed to get.