BEATRICE – A judge has awarded $3,900 in a small claims action to a Beatrice couple, who filed against the owner of a fence company where customers put down deposits, but never saw projects completed.

Following a trial in Gage County Court Thursday, Judge Linda Bauer granted the award to Max and Patricia Quattromani, of Beatrice…awarding the $3,900 be paid by Travis Kechely, owner of Patriot Fence Company, located in north Beatrice. The judgement includes interest at a rate of just over two-percent.

The Quattromanis appeared in court, however Kechely did not appear. Entered as evidence in the small claims case were an estimate for work and a check from the couple.

The Beatrice couple said in their claim that last October 29^th, Kechely had cashed a $4,074 check for materials to have a fence installed on their property. When the work had not been started 60 days later, the Quattromanis’ demanded a refund, which Kechley refused to make. The materials had not been delivered and the fence construction never began.

Last January 12^th, Beatrice Police said they had received about a dozen complaints from customers who did business with Patriot Fence, who put down deposits but never saw the work completed.

Police were investigating for any potential criminal violations.