Trial Begins Monday For Contractor Bartlett

BROOKSVILLE - Jury selection will begin Monday for what promises to be a lengthy trial of a contractor accused of pocketing money intended for home construction.

Attorneys on both sides gave a glimpse of what to expect in the coming four weeks during a 30-minute pretrial Friday morning.

Assistant State Attorney Phil Hanson summarized his case against Steve Bartlett as 120 people who paid for houses they didn't get.

Bartlett's attorney, Donald Harrison, indicated that he will examine "the question of (Bartlett's) intent."

However, most of the hearing focused on basic procedural issues, beginning with the first hurdle of finding a competent jury.

Current estimates place the trial running four weeks - from Feb. 9 though March 5 - and it's going to be tough finding people willing to place their life on hold for that long.

Also on the list of concerns is finding an impartial jury whose members haven't heard of the alleged misdeeds of the former owner of Coral Bay Construction.

Hanson and Harrison discussed ways to streamline the process Friday, including a questionnaire as well as interviewing some prospective jurors outside the panel.

The state attorney's office has already prepared a booklet that condenses 15,000 pages of documents to 120.

Each page contains the case of an alleged victim so that jurors can keep notes and use the book as a reference, Hanson explained.

Harrison wanted it clear in the jury instructions that this was not considered evidence.

An extra 50 jurors received summons for the trial in addition to the 50 expected to show up Monday morning. That number is expected to be whittled down to 12.

The upcoming trial is the result of an extensive investigation by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office that reportedly uncovered more than 100 victims worldwide.

Authorities say Bartlett used nearly $1 million in construction funds for his own personal use and left unfinished houses across the Tampa Bay area.

His lawyer has said in the past that Bartlett had no criminal intent and simply "bit off more than he could chew."

One of the people the state will call as a witness is Conrad Filipiak, who claims he gave Bartlett four checks worth $130,000 to build his retirement home.

Filipiak left shortly after for an eight-month trip to the Philippines with the belief that construction was under way on his lot in Royal Highlands.

"I didn't know anything was going on," he said Friday by phone.

When Filipiak learned of Bartlett's arrest via e-mail, he asked a stateside friend to check on his lot.

"There's nothing there but trees" came the e-mail reply, according to Filipiak.

Now Filipiak, 59, says he out all the money and is living in a trailer in High Point.

"This ruined my retirement future," he said.