Jeannette, PA -- Westmoreland County Detectives filed charges against a Jeannette contractor accused of receiving money for a construction project and abandoning the work. 

Detectives filed theft and deceptive/fraudulent business practices charges against Lee Dobies, 49, who owns the business, The Sky's the Limit Construction. 

The investigation was launched by county detectives in October of 2023 after the First Baptist Church in Jeannette provided Dobies with a down payment of $6,200 to initiate and demolish an abandoned residential structure on North Second Street. 

Upon receiving the down payment, detectives said Dobies accepted the funds, removed windows and any other items of value, and then proceeded to tell the church that he could not complete the demolition project because he did not have the equipment or resources to complete the project. 

Dobies was questioned by detectives and allegedly admitted that he could not complete the project because he did not have the financial resources or the equipment to complete it. 

Detectives made multiple attempts to reach out to Dobies but were unsuccessful. 

There is an active warrant for Dobies. 

Disclaimer: To the extent that pending criminal matters are discussed, all such charges are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.