Welcome to Arrest Stories. A thirty-three-year-old Central Texas contractor faces multiple felony theft charges after allegedly stealing over one hundred thirty thousand dollars from an elderly woman and failing to build her promised home. Here's what may have happened.
Andress Sellman of Salado now faces serious legal trouble spanning two counties after a Falls County grand jury returned three new felony indictments on September sixteenth. The charges stem from an alleged construction scheme that began in December twenty twenty-three when Sellman contracted with an elderly woman to build her home near Chilton in northwestern Falls County.
According to court documents, Sellman took approximately one hundred thirty thousand dollars from the victim but never completed the promised residence. Investigators discovered that Sellman obtained four loan advances totaling sixty-three thousand six hundred two dollars through the victim's bank account, supposedly for building materials. However, authorities found a disturbing pattern of misuse.
Officials stated, "Furthermore, there was little indication that any funds were used to operate Sellman's business or to construct the victim's residence." The investigation revealed that "out of the total amount advanced to Sellman, about fifty-eight thousand nine hundred forty-eight dollars was used purely for personal gain."
Those personal expenses allegedly included clothing, merchandise, vehicle payments, vehicle maintenance, dental hygiene, hair care, family vacations, and trip expenses. The contractor also reportedly hired two subcontractors for the project but failed to pay them as well.
This isn't Sellman's first brush with theft allegations. He was initially arrested in July on felony theft charges in McLennan County for allegedly stealing nearly sixty thousand dollars from another victim between December twenty-sixth twenty twenty-four and March fifth twenty twenty-five. That victim alerted the McLennan County sheriff's office on March thirty-first.
Sellman had also contracted to build another residence in the four hundred block of Marley Road in Mart. His bond was set at three hundred thousand dollars.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.