Contractor Walks Away With $28K | St. Louis News

A St. Charles contractor, Stephen Paul Smith, faces felony theft charges after allegedly pocketing $28,566 from homeowners for a kitchen remodel that never began. The homeowners paid in August 2025, only to find Smith shuttering his business in February 2026 with no work done and no money returned. Police were called in March, and Smith admitted he “never intended to victimize” them—but the damage is done. As of this week, the charge was filed, and the homeowners still await any compensation. Smith is scheduled for a court appearance on August 26, 2026. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6fa3208b9c686e0b