HOUSTON – The attorney for a pool builder who didn't finish area pools and skipped town says Jay Bellar had found a new job, but that job fell through after his soon-to-be employer learned about Bellar's situation in Houston.
Jay Bellar owned Bellar Pools and abruptly left town in July leaving customers with holes in the ground and no word on how they might get pools they paid for completed.
Last month, Bellar showed up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and wanted a job from a new pool company.
"He walked into my office," said Frank Aylward, president of Blue Haven Pools in Charlotte.
Bellar touted his experience.
"How many years of experience (he had) working for other competitors and some of the things he could bring to the table," Aylward said.
Aylward says Bellar did not detail what happened at Bellar Pools in Houston.
Aylward was ready to hire Bellar as his general manager but then he saw the first Channel 2 investigation.
Aylward decided not to hire Bellar.
"I just told him, ‘What you are all about, I can't have anything like that associated with my company,'" Aylward says he told Bellar. "I wouldn't even think about (hiring him) now that I know what he is all about."
Bellar declined to talk to Channel 2 investigative reporter Jace Larson when Larson approached him at a house in southwest Charlotte last week.
Bellar sent a statement saying his company had gone under and blamed the wet summer weather. He offered what he called a "heartfelt apology" to "valued customers."
Bellar filed for personal bankruptcy Aug. 20.
Some of those customers allowed other pool companies to complete the jobs for free. Some other pool companies offered to do work for customers at cost.
If you have a tip for investigative reporter Jace Larson, email or text him at jlarson@kprc.com or 832-493-3951.
Jamon Comeaux was shaken as a baby and is blind and cannot walk or talk. His adopted parents wanted to build him a pool to help him exercise.