Man accused of stealing $38K from Larimer residents in lawn care scheme

Sheriff's deputies arrested a 43-year-old man after he reportedly bilked Larimer County residents out of $38,000 for lawn care services he never delivered. 

Christopher Daily was arrested Monday on suspicion of theft between $20,000 and $100,000, a Class 4 felony, and four counts of theft from an at-risk elder, a Class 3 felony.

Four of his reported victims were older than 70 at the time Daily allegedly collected payment.

Multiple victims contacted Fort Collins Police Services, the Johnstown Police Department and the Larimer County Sheriff's Office to report that Daily had charged them $999 for two years of lawn care and snow removal, but failed to provide the service he promised them, according to arrest documents.

The victims told investigators they found flyers for Paradise Hardscapes on their front doors. The flyer told residents that if they purchased the service, they would receive snow removal, lawn care services, and sprinkler start-up and blow-out. 

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Daily reportedly came to their homes to set up a contract and collect payment. Arrest documents show he collected $38,532 between January and April 2016, but either did not deliver any of the services promised in the contract or only showed up a few times.

Investigators found that he had written checks for about $7,600 to sub-contractors for services including snow removal, but the number of hours that amount would have paid for would not have been sufficient to complete the work he had promised customers. 

Paradise Hardscapes has an "F" rating on the Better Business Bureaus' website due in part to failure to respond to more than 20 complaints filed against the business.

Daily is also facing accusations of felony theft in Douglas and Weld counties. In 2001, he pleaded guilty to theft between $500 and $15,000 and first-degree forgery. 

As of Thursday morning, Daily was being held at the Larimer County Jail on a $25,000 bond. He is due in court Dec. 14 for a disposition hearing. 

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime. 

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