Executive Summary
- Jason Wallace’s bond was revoked in Hillsborough County court ahead of sentencing for felony theft.
- Wallace pleaded guilty in January to stealing from the elderly and workers’ compensation violations.
- The defendant has prior convictions for unlicensed contracting in Pasco County and owes unpaid restitution.
- Victim Deloris Hilliard claims a loss of over $70,000 for unfinished home renovations.
TAMPA, Fla. — An unlicensed contractor based in Pasco County was remanded into custody on Tuesday after a Hillsborough County judge revoked his bond prior to a scheduled sentencing hearing regarding felony theft charges. Jason Wallace, who pleaded guilty in January to charges of stealing from the elderly and failing to obtain necessary workers’ compensation coverage, was taken into custody immediately following the hearing.
The sentencing proceeding was originally set for Tuesday but was delayed due to a last-minute change in Wallace’s defense counsel. Consequently, the presiding judge ordered Wallace to be held in jail for the next month while awaiting a rescheduled court date. According to 10 Tampa Bay, the defendant has previously been convicted in two separate cases in Pasco County related to unlicensed contracting.
Deloris Hilliard, a victim in the current Hillsborough County case, stated she used inheritance funds to pay Wallace more than $70,000 for renovations that were never completed. Witnesses described Hilliard expressing visible relief as deputies handcuffed Wallace. “Huge sigh of relief just knowing that I know he’s not going to be out on the street anymore,” Hilliard told reporters following the courtroom arrest.
Prosecutors noted during the proceedings that while Wallace was ordered to pay restitution in his prior Pasco County convictions, he has allegedly failed to make payments in either case. Furthermore, investigative reporting by local news outlets indicates that Wallace faces additional accusations of unfinished work from homeowners as far away as New Jersey.
Procedural Next Steps
Wallace is scheduled to return to court in late March, at which point a new sentencing timeline will be established. The judicial decision to revoke bond prior to sentencing often reflects the court’s assessment of flight risk or non-compliance, particularly when a defendant has a history of failing to meet financial restitution obligations in previous convictions. This incarceration ensures the defendant’s presence for the final adjudication of the felony charges.
It is important to note that while guilty pleas have been entered in specific charges mentioned, all individuals facing additional accusations are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
