New Hampshire Deputy Attorney General Ann M. Rice announces that Douglas Ring, 43, of Charlestown, NH pleaded guilty today in Cheshire County Superior Court to 2 class-A misdemeanor charges of Theft by Deception.

In June 2015, Mr. Ring, doing business as Riverside Pools and Spas of Claremont, NH, accepted a $12,000 deposit from a customer to order and install an in-ground swimming pool. Mr. Ring did not order the pool and instead used the deposit money to pay bills and expenses. When the customer asked for a refund, Mr. Ring lied and told the customer that the pool had been ordered and was on the truck for delivery. He did not provide any amount of refund to the customer.

In a separate incident, Mr. Ring accepted a $5,800 deposit from a customer in July 2015 to order and install a spa. He did not order the spa and instead used the deposit money to pay bills and expenses. Mr. Ring deceptively told the customer that the reason the spa was not delivered was because the spa company was experiencing a shortage in staff and long delays in production. Mr. Ring did not provide any refund to the customer. Riverside Pools and Spas closed in August 2015.

Pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, Mr. Ring was sentenced to 2 concurrent sentences of 12 months in the House of Corrections, both suspended for 2 years and 2 years of probation. The sentences are suspended conditioned on Mr. Ring remaining of good behavior, fully paying restitution to the victims and not accepting prepayments for any goods not yet delivered or services not yet rendered.

Consumers with consumer-related complaints or concerns can call the Attorney General's Consumer Information Line at 1-888-468-4454 or file a complaint on-line at http://doj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints/index.htm.