Carthage business owners bound over for trial on stealing, financial exploitation of the elderly charges

Judge Dean Dankelson bound Carthage business owners Casey and Wendy Harris over for trial following a preliminary hearing this morning in Jasper County Circuit Court.

The Harrises, owners of Harris Renovations, LLC, will be arraigned in the trial court 9 a.m. July 8.

Casey Harris is charged with stealing and financial exploitation of the elderly, while Wendy Harris is faced with each of those counts, as well as fraudulent use of a credit device.

According to the probable cause statement for Casey Harris, the 70-year-old victim had more than $230,000 taken from her savings and checking accounts "in the form of checks written to Casey Harris and Harris Renovations.

Harris also used the Lowe's credit card allegedly created by his wife, to buy more than $90,000 worth of items that were then used to "complete construction and renovation jobs for other paying clients.

The Harrises allegedly stole money from the woman over a period from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2025.

Wendy Harris' probable cause statement says the woman had given her power of attorney and used "undue influence" on her.