Bail bondsman nabs fugitive solar contractor in Turlock

A solar contractor who admitted stealing thousands of dollars from more than half a dozen Tuolumne County residents was apprehended by his bail bondsman Monday after he skipped his sentencing hearing in June.

Mark Davis, of Mark Davis Bail Bonds of Modesto, collared Brent Leland Segars at a relative’s home  in Turlock.
 

Segars was scheduled for sentencing June 24 after he pleaded guilty in September to first degree burglary, financial elder abuse and diversion of construction funds in an agreement attorneys negotiated.

However, Segars did not show up for his sentencing and a no-bail arrest warrant was issued by Judge Eric DuTemple.

By not appearing, Segars forfeited his earlier bail of $100,000. Davis had been looking for him since then and through various sources tracked Segars to Turlock.

He had 180 days to produce Segars or would have had to pay the $100,000.

“We have a lot of hours into this,” Davis said. “It’s worth it.”

On June 22, DuTemple denied Segars’ motion to withdraw his guilty plea.

“I’m innocent,” Segars said Monday before being booked into Tuolumne County Jail. “I just want to go to trial.”

Segars, owner of Green Energy Consulting Inc. of Oakdale, faced 25 criminal charges after he promised homeowners he would install solar panels on their homes and took deposits but never completed the projects.

Segars was charged with five counts of felony forgery, six counts of first degree residential burglary, one count of theft from an elder, six counts of diverting construction funds and seven counts of grand theft of personal property.

There were nine alleged victims in the complaint against Segars, and a total theft of more than $87,000, according to court documents.

Between February 2005 and April 2006, Segars signed contracts with several homeowners in Grove-land and Sonora, prosecutors said.

Two more victims were later added to the case.

Each of the homeowners gave Segars checks from $4,700 to $31,000. No work was done in most cases, court documents showed.

 In April, Segars fired his Modesto-based attorney, Kirk McAllister, and has since retained Sonora lawyer James Webster.