Unregistered Bayville Contractor Indicted on Theft Charges

A Bayville man illegally posed as a contractor and collected thousands in payments for repairs he wasn't registered to complete, according to an Ocean County grand jury.

Stephen J. Sente, 50, of Edward Avenue was indicted last week on several charges after being arrested based on agreements he made with Toms River residents.

Sente was not registered with the Division of Consumer Affairs, the indictment states, yet he still entered into agreements in 2010 with two women in Toms River to make repairs to their homes.

Sente failed to complete work on one woman's home after receiving $4,000 from her in October 2010, the indictment states. He also allegedly was paid $15,790 by another Toms River women for uncompleted work contracted between January and November of that year, the indictment states.

He was charged with two counts of theft by deception, two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition and four counts of unregistered home improvement contracting.

Sente was released on a summons.

• A grand jury also indicted Melissa L. Starick, 30, of Bayville on a shoplifting charge.

Starick was arrested Nov. 26 in Lacey after stealing more than $200 in merchandise from Walmart, including stickers, markers and a cell phone.

She was released on a summons.