Okay, once again I find myself right in the middle of a sucky situation and in need of help. I can't post this on Facebook as people will know who I am talking about, but am appealing for opinions on message boards, by private message, or whatever occurs to me.
Since my wonderful friend Darrell who could make or repair anything passed away over a year ago, I have good news and bad news. The good news is, I found electricians (not in this county, but next one over) who sent an actual human being to the house who was honest, pleasant, and seemed quite competent. I talked on the phone to a plumber who seems to be pleasant and sane but have not actually set eyes on him. The carpentry work seems to be well in control of a good trustworthy person. Any metal work, however, is so far a total bust. Everyone is too busy, senile, dead, crazy, crocked, or crooked.
I am looking to modify or fabricate a few small yard sculptures and the like--not custom build a car for crying out loud! There is one local guy very talented, I was told by a number of people, "when he's sober." I asked what his vehicle looked like so I could know if he was home. Seems he either couldn't afford a vehicle, or didn't qualify for a driver's license, or both...yeah, really great signs...and rides an antique bicycle. I was so desperate I was getting in the car to go see him when a guy stopped me and said, "You don't want him, you don't want him," and recommended this other guy whose family I sort of know.
By "sort of know," his uncle lived next to me. He seemed normal and pleasant, but his wife was a raving psycho b!t¢h and some of the stuff she pulled, well he had to have aided and abetted, which makes me wonder about him and the whole situation. I could tell you stories but this is not about that. This uncle has two brothers, one I don't know at all and the other runs this business employing the son of the brother I don't know, the son (nephew of my ex-neighbor and his brother) being the person this guy recommended to me.
So I brought him one small job, he completed beautifully, charged reasonably, and delivered it personally in acceptable time. I did not have the exact amount in cash so I gave him $5.00 over and said that was towards future work. I have been by the business several times, never caught him there, but figured he was just out working. His uncle gave me a phone number with no area code. I texted using the local area code and got some girl who never heard of him. So I tried looking him up online. The stuff hit the fan when I found an article from earlier this year saying he "has been charged with five counts of first-degree child rape, a Class A felony." Every instance took place after he turned 18, but before he graduated. (I knew he was young, but did not realize he is only 18 and just graduated this past summer.)
So, not a case of an 18-year-old boy skinny dipping with an 11-year-old boy, but five instances of a serious nature with someone under the age of 12, but the article did not say boy or girl or whether all five counts were with the same victim.
His first court appearance was last summer. According to the latest information I could find, the original date for his trial has passed, but I can find no record of it and all I know is the last trial held here was delayed by at least three months. If he was tried and convicted, I should be able to find a record of it, and of course if incarcerated there is no question of having him do any work. If not convicted, or if given a suspended sentence, I'd still feel creepy about hiring him. The guy who built my shed is already in prison for child pornography which is bad enough. I don't read newspapers and if it weren't for the internet I wouldn't know all this stuff! Right now I'll doubtless write off the extra $5.00 as a loss but am starting to be at wits' end where to find someone to do these jobs! I have tried the hardware store to no avail so may start contacting shop teachers or something!