Sidney businessman accused of not paying people in Piqua

A 57-year-old Sidney businessman is facing numerous felony theft charges after multiple people claimed he hired them to do work but didn’t pay them.

Duaine E. Liette has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Miami County Municipal Court. He was arraigned Friday on four felony theft charges and three misdemeanor theft counts and was released from custody on his own recognizance.

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The cases were related to complaints from June 2015, June 2017 and July 2017, in which people stated they were hired to complete work for Liette but never received payment, according to Piqua police and court records.

Piqua police arrested Liette on Thursday at 1037 Broadway St., in Piqua. The house is owned by Sidney-based real estate company American Land Investments, of which Liette is listed as its principal; the business also has the same address as Liette’s residence, records show.

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Piqua police are urging anyone else who believe they may be victims to call 937-440-9111.

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