A Holmes County man has been arrested on felony charges after investigators say he took tens of thousands of dollars from a homeowner and failed to perform promised repair work following tornado damage.
According to the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, Terron Patrick was hired by a local homeowner to make repairs to a residence that sustained significant damage during a recent tornado. Investigators said Patrick represented himself as capable of completing the repairs and accepted a large payment upfront.
Deputies said the homeowner paid Patrick approximately $40,000 to begin the work. However, after receiving the money, Patrick allegedly failed to return to the property, did not begin any repairs, and stopped responding to calls and messages from the homeowner.
The homeowner filed a formal complaint with investigators in October 2025 after repeated attempts to contact Patrick were unsuccessful. Detectives reviewed the case and discovered that Patrick did not hold a valid contractor’s license, which is required to legally perform repair work of that scope.
Following the investigation, deputies obtained arrest warrants for Patrick. He was taken into custody on Wednesday without incident.
Patrick is now facing charges of grand theft and contracting without a license. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges could be possible if more victims come forward.
The sheriff’s office is urging residents to verify contractor credentials before paying for repair work, especially after natural disasters when fraudulent activity tends to increase. Officials recommend confirming licenses through state databases, avoiding large upfront payments, and using written contracts that clearly outline the scope of work.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of similar activity is encouraged to contact local law enforcement to file a report.
