Staff Report

Larry G. Hilty

COLUMBIA CITY — The CEO and owner of a Columbia City construction business has been arrested for theft and corrupt business influence.

Larry G. Hilty, 34, 116 W. Van Buren St. Apartment 201, Columbia City, is charged with theft where the value of the property is over $50,000 and corrupt business influence, both level 5 felonies.

Hilty is the CEO and owner of Hilty Buildings LLC.

On April 15, 2023, a couple entered a contract with Hilty Buildings LLC to build a barn-style structure on their property in Churubusco. A first payment was made by the couple to Hilty Buildings on April 21, 2023, for $81,693.

According to court documents, the projected start date on the contract was shown as Aug. 15, 2023, but had a disclaimer that jobs can be pushed back due to weather and material delays.

On July 31, 2023, the couple was told the project’s start date would be pushed back to Oct. 1, 2023. They were then told of a project manager change on Sept. 13, 2023, and were informed shortly after that construction would start in two to four weeks.

The couple said they were told in early October 2023 that colors were being confirmed and the project would begin on Oct. 23, 2023. However, on Oct. 20, 2023, the couple was told supply issues would delay the build. They were also told the builder was held up on finishing another job on Oct. 26, 2023.

On Nov. 7, 2023, the wife asked Hilty Buildings for itemized receipts or sale orders to confirm the building materials were ordered. That same day, the husband received a text asking for a second payment of $23,341 since walls were being set up. The couple wrote a check for that amount on Nov. 8, 2023.

On Nov. 21, 2023, Hilty Buildings told the couple the project would be delayed by about four to five weeks. The wife scheduled an in-person meeting with Hilty Buildings on Nov. 29, 2023. However, this meeting was canceled by Hilty Buildings.

On Jan. 3, the wife said she filed a complaint with the Indiana Attorney General’s Office after not receiving any updates from Hilty Buildings about the project. Trusses were then put in place on Jan. 8.

In late January, Hilty said an employee would be out to finish the lean-to and purlins. On Feb. 9, Hilty said his sub-contractor would be meeting with him to provide a project completion date.

On April 22, the husband received a text from Hilty stating all further contact would need to go through an attorney.

As of May 1, the couple’s project with Hilty Buildings LLC has not been completed.

On May 1, an Indiana State Police detective spoke with Hilty about the project. Hilty said he did not go back to the property since the couple filed a lawsuit against him in February before they could get back to the job.

Hilty said his company had cyber theft from two former employees that cost him $1 million in revenue. When asked if he had filed a police report, Hilty said he hadn’t and was told his attorney advised him not to report what happened.

Hilty told the detective the complaint to the attorney general’s office and the lawsuit made him not want to go back to the job site until the lawsuit was resolved.

Hilty has already been arrested in Whitley County and released on bond.