A local businessman who recently pleaded guilty to charges in several felony cases in Muskingum County is also being sued by the state attorney general’s office as part of a consumer protection investigation for “shoddy work and failing to deliver promised services.”

Robert Gorley, 48, is the owner of C&J Construction in Zanesville, a company accused of causing a total of $22,005 in losses to customers in four separate complaints.

The complaint filed in the Muskingum County Court of Common against Gorley states the defendant was operating a business under a fictitious name not registered with the Ohio Secretary of State.

Furthermore, the complaint alleges Gorley does not have designated locations for his retail business even though he solicited and sold home improvement goods to customers at their homes.

Those who hired Gorley for home improvements reported to the attorney general’s office that the defendant failed to deliver the goods and services he promised, including repair, remodeling and installation services within eight weeks.

Some customers claimed that when Gorley did show up to do the work he was paid to complete, he would not finish the job or would provide substandard, shoddy work, according to the complaint.

As a result, those customers had to pay additional fees to have the work corrected or completed.

The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Dave Yost says through his actions, Gorley violated parts of the Consumer Sales Practices Act and the Home Solicitation Sales Act.

Yost is asking Judge Kelly Cottrill to issue a declaratory judgement affirming the violations stated in the complaint and order Gorley to pay all damages to his customers, as well as impose civil fines up to $25,000 for each violation.

Additionally, Yost is requesting the judge order Gorley and his associates to refrain from committing the same acts in the future, as well as prohibit Gorley from conducting further business until the monetary penalties are satisfied, if imposed.

In addition to civil penalties, Gorley is also charged criminally by local prosecutors on three counts of theft by deception, one with an elderly victim, and is awaiting sentencing in the Muskingum County Jail on $100,000 bond.