Ann Powers
Editor
PARKER COUNTY – Area contractor Stephen Burch already has a slew of civil litigations against him and yesterday he added two felony charges to his repertoire, according to the Parker County Sheriff’s office.
Officers apprehended Burch, of Mineral Wells, on June 5. He’s charged with misapplication of trust funds equaling $500 or more and property theft between $30,000 and $150,000. A judge handed down a $20,000 bond for each charge and he was released the same day, Parker County records show.
Burch is also facing a felony theft charge in Hood County following an arrest last January. That case has been sent to the Hood County District Attorney’s office for criminal prosecution, according to Granbury police.
Burch is no stranger to the legal system. Court records in Palo Pinto, Tarrant, Parker and Denton counties list an extensive history of civil litigations naming Burch for taking money for construction work he never completed – dating back to 2007.
Public records show:
- Steve Lewis vs. Stephen Burch, Stalworth Construction – Palo Pinto County, 2023
- PLS Check Cashers of Texas, L.P. vs. Stalworth Construction – Denton County, 2023
- James Hankinson, Jim Palmersheim vs. Stalworth Construction – Palo Pinto County, 2023
- Jeff Somers vs. Stalworth Construction – Palo Pinto County, 2023
- Third Coast Insurance Company vs. Stalworth Construction – Parker County, 2023
- Jayson Hammett and Sheryl Hammett vs. Stalworth Construction – Parker County, 2023
- Kyle Coker and wife Melanie Forbes vs. Stalworth Construction and Stephen Burch – Palo Pinto County, 2023
- Nation’s Best Holdings, LLC dba Simms Lumber Company vs. Stalworth Construction, LLC, and Stephen Burch – Parker County, 2023
- Sutherland Building Material Centers, LP, dba, Sutherlands Homebase vs. Stalworth Construction – Palo Pinto County, 2021
- Plywood Company of Fort Worth, Inc. vs. Stalworth Construction – Tarrant County, 2020
- James Lasater vs. Stephen Burch – Parker County, 2018
- Eaglemark Savings Bank dba Harley-Davidson Financial Services vs. Stephen Burch – Palo Pinto County, 2009
- Susan Elaine Hurst-Church vs. Stephen Burch, individually and Stephen Burch dba 4 Any Construction, 2008
- First National Bank of Weatherford vs. Stephen R. Burch – Parker County, 2007
- Margarette Noe vs. Stephen R. Burch, aka 4 Any Construction, 2007
- Kenneth and Ida Heimgartner vs. Stephen Burch, individually and dba 4 Any Construction, 2007
There are two Facebook groups, with 300 members between them, set up to “Stop Stephen Burch and Stalworth Construction.”
The Palo Pinto Press will update this story as more information becomes available.
