JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- The owner of a southern Indiana pool company who pleaded guilty to two counts of felony theft learned his sentence Monday. 

Cameron Reas, the owner of Clark County-based RPM Pools, will avoid prison, but will instead serve two years on probation. He owes the two victims in this case more than $70,000 in restitution.

Magistrate Jeffrey Branstetter, who presided over the hearing, said Reas will spend the entire time on probation -- and likely more -- paying back the victims.

Reas was arrested in June 2022 after several people who did business with RPM Pools reported that they were scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars when they paid for work that was never completed. 

Allen Chrisman said he paid Reas $48,000 to build a pool in the backyard of his Sellersburg home, but work never started on the pool. He said Reas came out and provided a bid, but explained there was a backlog because of the pandemic. 

Chrisman said he "wrote a check for the first deposit. He then came in and said the pool was coming in and needed another check for the equipment."

After that date passed, Chrisman said he checked social media and found out he wasn't the only victim. 

During Monday's sentencing hearing the victims read their impact statements, and the prosecution played a portion of Reas' bankruptcy hearing where he told the court he spent the money on groceries, rent, pool chemicals, and golf. He also said he gave his mom money for an apartment.

Reas took the stand to apologize for his actions.

"I got in over my head and I got scared so I ran," he said. "I’m regretful and will pay you guys back. I’m sorry for everything."

Reas' father also took the stand and told the judge that he will be managing his son’s money from here on out, including setting aside 40 percent of each paycheck to pay the victims back.

"I’m very sorry as a parent," he said. "They’re (the victims) friends of mine. They were doing me a favor giving him a job."

Reas was ordered to pay the victims at least $1,000 a month in restitution.

One of those victims, Rhonda Deckard, looked directly at Reas from the stand when she read her statement. She said she doesn’t hate him, and accepts the fact that he won’t spend time in prison. She instead hopes he learns from this and does better.

"I have mixed emotions about it," Deckard said. "A little payment is better than no payment. If he really makes an effort to work and pay the victims back, I think that’s better than no restitution at all."

Reas' attorney, Richard Rush, said his client has learned from the experience. "You don’t want to have a pity party for someone who pleaded guilty to felony theft, but Cameron’s life was immeasurably changed too. But he wasn’t out $70,000 like the people you heard in the courtroom."

Reas has been free on a $10,000 bond. That money is going to be split up and disbursed to the victims in the case. He was also ordered to pay $2,500 to the victims on Monday -- money he has been able to save since securing another job that’s not in the pool construction business.

Reas is expected to appear before a jury in March in Floyd County, where he faces a similar charge. 

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