Grand jury to hear theft case against former owners of Quincy spa/pool business

QUINCY — A husband and wife who formerly owned a Quincy business and now face two theft charges made their first appearance in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Andy P. Reardon, 58, and Michelle M. Reardon, 52, of Spring Hill, Fla., appeared with St. Louis attorney Justin Summary before Judge Tad Brenner. 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.

Summary told Brenner during Tuesday’s brief hearing that he would be asking for a preliminary hearing. Assistant State’s Attorney Todd Eyler replied by saying he would take the case to an Adams County grand jury, which will next convene on Nov. 9. A hearing then was set for Nov. 21.

“Should there be a bill of indictment, would your clients be ready for arraignment at that time?” Brenner asked.

“Yes, they could,” Summary replied. “They usually reside in Florida. Do they have to be present for an arraignment?”

“Yes, absolutely,” Brenner said.

“If an indictment is not obtained by that time, will we have a preliminary hearing (on Nov. 21)?” Summary asked.

“Well, it’s not set for a preliminary hearing,” Brenner said. “The state’s attorney just set a date following the convening of the grand jury on the first available Tuesday. Frankly, I can’t tell you the last time I’ve seen a preliminary hearing in this county.”

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 owner 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.

A document filed Aug. 14 in Adams County shows a default judgment against the Reardons from Central State Bank of Pleasant Hill worth $60,153.68. The Reardons also lost a similar case in Adams County on Feb. 27 when Watkins Manufacturing Corporation, a hot tub and spa manufacturer, was awarded a $51,538.36 judgment.

Several people who claim they lost money or received poor work for the installation of hot tubs, pools or spas by Backyard Adventures Pools and Spas were in the courtroom Tuesday.