A Carter County judge dismissed a theft case against a local home improvement contractor after the man reached an agreement with the District Attorney’s Office to pay restitution to the alleged victim in the case.

Judge Keith Bowers Jr. dismissed a felony charge of theft over $1,000 against Hughy “Guy” Sams, 45, of Elizabethton, in General Sessions Court on Monday morning.

Sams appeared in court Monday with his attorney. The District Attorney’s Office informed the court all the restitution had been paid. The State then requested Bowers dismiss the case based upon Sams completing the terms of the agreement. Bowers then dismissed the case against Sams.

The charge against Sams stemmed from an incident in 2016 where a local resident filed a report with the Carter County Sheriff’s Office stating he had paid Sams $3,000 in advance to complete remodeling work at his residence. The man told investigators Sams never began work on the project and never refunded his money despite numerous requests.

According to court documents, an investigator with the Sheriff’s Office contacted Sams regarding the allegations. Sams told investigators on July 7, 2016, that he would refund the man’s money but he failed to do so, according to the affidavit of complaint against Sams.

Bowers also dismissed a failure to appear in court charge against Sams upon agreement by the District Attorney’s Office and Sams’ attorney.