Posted at: 09/24/2009 1:15 PM | WHEC.com
Updated at: 09/24/2009 1:17 PM
By: Brett Davidsen

I-Team 10 follow-up: Building contractor takes the stand at his trial

Danny Hurst, the Oklahoma contractor accused of fraud in Livingston County has taken the stand in his own defense at his trial. Hurst is accused of pocketing more than $200,000 intended for a construction project in Geneseo.

His trial began on Monday.

Hurst was hired to construct a building to house a call center for a California-based collection agency. It promised to bring dozens of jobs to the area and was supposed to open last February.

Prosecutors say Hurst failed to pay many of the sub-contractors for work they did and then abandoned the job.

The company had to hire a new contractor to finish the job. The business is now scheduled to open next month.

I-team 10 uncovered that Hurst has a lengthy criminal history, and when he was arrested last winter, he was already on probation for embezzlement.

He now faces charges of grand larceny and falsifying business records.

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