Atlantic woman pleads guilty to home improvement fraud

May 14—The second of two people accused of committing more than $100,000 worth of home improvement fraud in the Conneaut Lake area has pleaded guilty.

Kristi L. McBride, 40, pleaded guilty Monday in Crawford County Court of Common Pleas to defrauding a Sadsbury Township man out of $118,135 in a home improvement scheme.

In January 2023, McBride and her husband, Chad Eckenrode, 43, both of 3438 Maple Lane, Atlantic, had multiple felony charges filed against them by Conneaut Lake Regional Police Department for failing to fulfill a contract they had signed with the home's owner.

McBride and Eckenrode were charged with second-degree felonies of false statement for home improvement services, receiving advance payment for services and failing to perform work, theft by deception and deceptive business practices. Each count has a maximum of 10 years in jail and $25,000 fine.

McBride's voice quavered as she admitted to Judge Mark Stevens to making a false statement for home improvement services.

"Guilty," McBride said when Stevens asked her how she would plead to the charge.

As part of her plea deal, McBride agreed to pay $51,980.60 in restitution to the homeowner.

"Yes," she said softly when asked if that was part of her plea agreement with the Crawford County District Attorney's Office.

Both McBride and Eckenrode were to go on trial this month in county court on their charges, but they struck separate deals with the Crawford County District Attorney's Office.

By pleading guilty to the felony false statement for home improvement services count, the three other felony charges against McBride won't be prosecuted by the DA's office.

On May 2, Eckenrode pleaded guilty in county court before Judge Francis Schultz to the felony charge of receiving advance payment for services and failing to perform work. The other three felony charges against him are not being prosecuted in exchange for the guilty plea.

According to the arrest affidavit filed in the case, the homeowner had signed a contract with A+ Handyman Service in September 2021 to remodel the home on Hickory Drive, but the business failed to fulfill the contract as required.

A+ Handyman Service is owned by McBride, and Eckenrode is a construction supervisor, the affidavit said.

The contract was to demolish and remodel portions of the interior, remove and remodel exterior portions, and construct a new addition to the rear of the residence, the affidavit said.

The homeowner made a down payment of $20,000 in December 2021, the affidavit said.

In 2022, subsequent checks were issued by the homeowner of $11,130 and $9,000 on March 19; $19,130 on May 2; $2,615 on May 22; $28,130 on June 10; and $28,130 on Aug. 28 — for a total payment of $118,135, the affidavit said.

McBride also had requested the checks be issued to McBride's Handyman Service instead of A+ Handyman or to McBride herself, the affidavit said.

Evidence gathered by police were photographs of uncompleted construction at the home, damage to the home caused by rainwater, windows not sealed, open-end plumbing, cracked wood and open electrical ends.

McBride remains free on $120,000 unsecured bond awaiting sentencing Aug. 15 before Stevens.

Eckenrode, who has $120,000 in unsecured bond in this case, remains jailed for parole violations for previous cases. He is to be sentenced July 5 before Schultz.

Keith Gushard can be reached at (814) 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.