MONROE — A fencing contractor who does business as “Fantasy Fence Depot” faces a felony theft charge that he defrauded a Town of Decatur resident.

Bryan James Gottschalk, 28, Jefferson, faces at least seven criminal cases in Wisconsin alleging similar activity. In Green County Circuit Court, he’s charged with theft by contractor, a Class H felony punishable by up to six years in prison.

The criminal complaint, filed Sept. 28 with reports from Green County Sheriff’s deputies, indicates the rural Brodhead resident paid Gottschalk a downpayment of $5,500 in Sept. 2019 to replace and add onto a fence at his residence.

The resident and Gottschalk agreed to wait for the work to begin until this spring “sometime after the frost was out of the ground.” On March 11, Gottschalk informed the resident the fence was damaged and he needed to order a new one. On May 11, Gottschalk promised he “should be out soon.”

After that, the resident “has tried numerous times to get ahold of Bryan, including calling, emailing and text messages, but they have all gone unanswered.”

A deputy noted the Better Business Bureau gave Fantasy Fence Depot an “F” rating and received complaints on the business that Gottschalk took deposit money for fencing work in Dane, Jefferson and Rock counties, then “made excuses” or stopped returning calls once the work was due.

Green County Judge Thomas Vale has issued a warrant for Gottschalk’s arrest.