Warrants: Horry County victims pay thousands for pools that were never installed

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) - A Lowcountry man and woman are out on bond after being accused of taking money to install pools at two homes and not completing the work.

Jeffery Douglas Haas, 43, and Emilie Caroline Haas, 39, of McClellanville, are charged with two counts each of breach of trust with fraudulent intent, valued at $5000 or more.

In the first case, a Horry County police officer was called out on Aug. 11 to Harrison Mill Street in the Myrtle Beach area.

The officer met with the victim, who said he signed a contract with Jeffery’s pool company, Sun Pools and Spas, on Feb. 23.

The warrants show the victim paid for the company to install the swimming, but redacts the total amount. The victim told the officer that the contract stated the pool would be put in within 120 days of signing.

However, the victim claims the installation never began.

In the second case, a Horry County police officer was called on Aug. 14 to Wayvland Drive in the Surfside Beach area.

The victim told the officer that he signed a contract with Sun Pools and Spas on March 17, which also stated that the pool would be put in within 120 days from the signing of the contract.

According to the warrants, the victim paid Haas $29,446.40 for the work, but no work was done.

In both cases, the two victims received letters on July 12 from the pool company’s “corporate counsel,” saying they would both be refunded the whole amount, according to an incident report. But both victims told officers that they never received their refunds.

Both victims tried to reach out to the pool company’s attorney’s office but were unsuccessful in getting their money back, according to the incident reports.

Jeffery and Emilie Haas were booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Sept. 7 and bonded out for $30,000 each the same day, jail records show.

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