State charges Springfield repair shop after report from KOLR10 Investigates

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — One year after KOLR10 Investigates uncovered several complains of shoddy or unfinished work at a hot rod repair shop in Springfield, the people running the business are now facing criminal charges.

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office this week charged Reed Arnold and Hillary Deckard of Queen City Rod and Custom with 18 felonies apiece. The charges include several counts of stealing and deceptive business practices.

The Attorney General’s Office says the criminal charges involve nine victims who lost more than $60,000 combined. The state says Arnold and Deckard would charge customers large up-front payments, take possession of their vehicles and then refuse to complete the work, issue refunds or even return the cars in some cases.

Last summer, KOLR10 Investigates interviewed several customers who had to report their cars as stolen just to get them back from the repair shop.

Probable cause statements filed by the AG’s Office describe customers making upfront payments ranging from $2,600 up to nearly $17,000 for work on their classic cars that Queen City Rod and Custom never completed.

In December, KOLR10 Investigates reported that Arnold and Deckard were evicted from their building on West Bypass, leaving behind at least one hood, motor and several car seats in the process. Some vehicles had to be towed from the shop.

Google lists the business as “permanently closed,” and now warrants have been issued for the arrests of Arnold and Deckard.

The felony stealing counts are punishable by up to seven years in prison. The couple is also charged with financially exploiting an elderly person which has a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.

In addition to the criminal charges, Arnold and Deckard have also faced several lawsuits filed by disgruntled customers.

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