(SLIDELL)---For the second time in six months, a Slidell contractor has been arrested on theft charges stemming from allegations that he took money from Hurricane Katrina victims and did little or no work on the houses, according to the Slidell Police Department.

Slidell Police Chief Freddy Drennan reports that 47-year-old James J. Moore was arrested on Monday, June 23, and charged with two counts of theft over $500 stemming from incidents that occurred in October, 2007.

Chief Drennan says that Moore allegedly received one payment of more than $11,200 and another for more than $3,700 on a contract to remove a house on Arrowhead Drive in Slidell and prepare the site for a new modular home. Chief Drennan says that Moore apparently failed to complete the work, leading the homeowner to bring charges.

Chief Drennan adds that on December 18, 2007, Moore was arrested and charged with three counts of theft over $500 in a case that developed in early November, 2007. Chief Drennan says in this case, Moore allegedly took money from a homeowner and failed to complete the work.

"This is one of the crimes that we have been dealing with since the storm that was not very common before the storm," said Chief Drennan. "I also want everyone to know that we will investigate these complaints to the fullest and hopefully make an arrest, unfortunately most of the time we cannot get their money back, since the so-called contractor has already spent the money."

---