7 March 2011 PORTAGE {Ohio} - A Columbus resident lost $4,000 to a contractor who refused to start the job he was paid to do, according to Columbus police. The contractor, Todd L. Bushong, 36, of Stoughton, appeared by video from Jefferson County Jail during an initial appearance Friday in Columbia County Circuit Court. He faces 1 1/2 years in prison on a charge of felony theft in a business setting. Columbus police say Bushong was charged Jan. 11 after he accepted a $4,000 payment in a roofing contract with a Columbus resident Sept. 27 but failed to do any work. The homeowner told police Bushong promised to begin the job Oct. 4 but did not show up, then told the homeowner that shingles were not available until Oct. 18, according to a criminal complaint. The homeowner did not hear from Bushong after Oct. 5, police said. Police said Bushong told them he was in contact with the homeowner about starting the work, but the homeowner said Bushong never contacted him. Police said Bushong did not obey a police order to bring a cashier's check for $4,000 to the Columbus Police Department by noon Oct. 18, according to the complaint. Bushong is in Jefferson County Jail after his probation was revoked Thursday; he was sentenced to two years of probation on March 2010 in Jefferson County Circuit Court after pleading no contest to three counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree sexual assault. Bushong was ordered to sign a $5,000 signature bond and to appear March 25 for a pretrial conference and April 6 for a court hearing. [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected])