An investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a DeKalb County log home salesman, charged with stealing from clients who ordered from him.
At the request of 13th District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, TBI Special Agents, working alongside detectives with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, began investigating Lawton Duane Park on September 9, 2015. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that between 2013 and 2014, Park was selling log home kits to individuals without producing the product that was sold. The name of the business under which Park sold these log home kits is Starry Hill Log Homes.
On Monday, the DeKalb County Grand Jury indicted Lawton Duane Park, 47, on three counts of Theft over $10,000 and one count of Theft over $1,000. Park was arrested Tuesday night by deputies with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the DeKalb County Jail. He was released after posting a $75,000 bond. He will be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday, April 11.
Count one of the indictment against Park alleges that on or about the 19th day of August, 2013 he knowingly did obtain or exercise control over certain property, to wit: $30,261.50 being over the value of $10,000 the property of Jodi Renwand with the intent to deprive constituting the offense of theft.
Count two alleges that on or about the 8th day of June, 2015 Park knowingly obtained or exercised control over certain property, to wit: $15,000 being over the value of $10,000 the property of Danny and Tara Hall with the intent to deprive constituting the offense of theft.
Count three states that on or about the 21st day of July, 2015 Park knowingly obtained or exercised control over certain property, to wit: $12,000 being over the value of $10,000 the property of Danny and Tara Hall with the intent to deprive constituting the offense of theft.
Count four alleges that on or about the 15th day of June 2015 Park knowingly obtained or exercised control over certain property, to wit: $4,000 being over the value of $1,000 the property of Danny and Tara Hall with the intent to deprive constituting the offense of theft.
Last September Park and his wife appeared in General Sessions Court on charges they assaulted a disgruntled customer who confronted them at McDonald’s Restaurant in Smithville.
After a hearing, Judge Bratten Cook, II found Mrs. Park guilty of assault and unlawful possession of a weapon. Judge Cook dismissed an assault charge against Park.. Mrs. Park received a sentence of 30 days on the weapon charge and six months for the assault but she was placed on probation. She was also fined a total of $100 plus court costs.
The Parks’ were arrested by Smithville Police on Thursday, August 27, 2015 after a Michigan man, Danny Hall confronted them at McDonald’s claiming they had defrauded him. Hall claimed he and his wife ordered a brand new log home through the Starry Hill Log Homes website in January, 2015 a company run by the Parks and paid $36,000 but never got the logs to build the home.
During the confrontation at McDonalds which was captured on video, Hall was allegedly assaulted by the Parks. While finding Mrs. Park guilty of the assault, Judge Cook dismissed the case against Mr. Park after reviewing the video and reportedly determining that he appeared to be trying to break up the fight. Mrs. Park was charged with the gun offense after police found the weapon in her purse during the assault investigation for which she had no permit.
At the time, Mr. Park, a pastor, reportedly offered regular Bible studies at the New Heart Outreach located on Broad Street in Smithville.
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