Cedar Rapids man pleads guilty in contractor theft case

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man, who was prepaid $15,000 by a development group to provide services, including underwriting fees for properties, but never did the work, pleaded guilty Thursday to a lesser charge.

Dennis Michael Lynch, 70, originally charged with first-degree theft, made a written plea to third-degree theft, an aggravated misdemeanor.

Lynch entered into a contract to complete some loan originator work for Frew Development Group on June 1, 2020, but he failed to do any of the work and refused to pay back the company, according to a criminal complaint.

First Assistant Linn County Attorney Monica Slaughter said Lynch was offered a plea to the lesser charge because he plans to pay back the money to Frew Development. Lynch also will receive a deferred judgment at sentencing and be on self-supervised probation for two years.

If Lynch completes his probation without serious violations, he can ask the court to expunge his conviction.

Sentencing hasn’t been set at this time.

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