People v. Tenerelli CA3

BACKGROUND

Former Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., declared a state of emergency in Shasta County due to the Carr fire in July 2018. In September 2018, California Contractors State License Board enforcement representative James Spence, along with other Contractors State License Board enforcement representatives and investigators from the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office, conducted an undercover operation to apprehend unlicensed individuals advertising to do work in Shasta County that would require a contractor’s license. Spence found a business card for Pat’s Painting and Handyman services at a paint store in Redding in the course of locating advertisements by unlicensed contractors. The card had a contractor’s license number that had been revoked. Posing as the owner of a property on Harlan Drive in Redding, Spence called the telephone number on the business card and discussed with defendant a project to replace a metal fence damaged in the Carr fire. Defendant did not identify himself as a licensed contractor, but said he could do the work. His contractor’s license was revoked in 2016. He showed up at the Harlan Drive property with Gilfred Brown. Spence showed defendant…