Matthew Will, 37, of Halifax, owner of Five Star Discount Roofing, appears in Plymouth District Court Feb. 11, 2019. (Photo by Abram Neal/Express News)
PLYMOUTH — Two of roofer Matthew Will’s five larceny-related cases– those with alleged victims in Kingston and Hanson– were continued for a month by District Court Judge Franco J. Gobourne at the request of Plymouth-based Attorney Jack Atwood.
Atwood told the judge that bank records turned over by the commonwealth in the discovery process were in “very small print” and that they were “too small to read.”
The discovery compliance and jury election hearings, where issues with evidence discovery are discussed before the court, were not held, although Gobourne said, “Let’s get this case moving,” to Atwood and the assistant district attorney.
Will, 37, of Halifax, owner of Five Star Discount Roofing, stands accused of victimizing 23 area households in at least three communities across Plymouth County by beginning contracting work and not completing it, or not doing work at all, after accepting deposits. They claim they have lost a combined $153,197.34, with individual losses ranging from $695 to $15,569.
Most of these victims are over age 55, and many are elderly, according to police reports. The alleged victim who lost the most money is 78 years old.
Will continues to hold construction supervisor licenses, according to state records, and continues to work according to a source who hopes that outstanding work will be completed by Will.
Dressed in paint-spattered pants in the Plymouth Trial Court hallway after the hearing, Will said, “I’ve been in business for 22 years without a problem. I don’t know why I’m even in court … There’s a very good reason this happened. I just had a bad year and couldn’t get the work done. I’m a good guy.”
Both matters were continued to March 12, 2019, at 9 a.m. for discovery compliance and jury election hearings. The case has been moving its way through the district court system since early August 2018.