<body><div>WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A former contractor who already is on felony probation for stealing money from a 68-year-old widow in Falls County was placed on probation again Friday in a similar scam involving a Woodway police captain and his wife.Andress Sellman, 34, who lives now in Bell County, pleaded guilty in 19th State District Court to misapplication of fiduciary property, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.Her plea came in exchange for a recommendation from the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office that Judge Thomas West place Sellman on felony deferred probation for five years. As a condition of the plea bargain, Sellman made $52,984 in restitution to Taylor and Sagan Groves, with whom Sellman had contracted to build a home in the 400 block of Marley Road in Mart.Sellman’s attorney, Abel Reyna, said Sellman is glad the case was resolved. “We are pleased that this matter has come to a favorable resolution that provided for full restitution and allowed my client to move forward with her life,” Reyna said.As a condition of her deferred probation, West prohibited Sellman from working in the construction industry in a fiduciary capacity.According to an arrest affidavit in the McLennan County case, Sellman is charged with stealing more than $50,000 from the Groves between Dec. 26, 2024, and March 5, 2025.Sellman, according to the affidavit, took four loan advances totaling $63,602 for building materials approved by Groves, who told authorities he thought Sellman was going to use the funds to build his residence.Investigators obtained Sellman’s financial records and learned the funds she took from the victim were used for personal expenses like clothing, merchandise, vehicle payments and maintenance, dental hygiene, hair care, family vacations and trip expenses.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=28GNBw_1H3modRO00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=28GNBw_1H3modRO00" width="1300" height="724" ><figcaption>Andress Sellman (KWTX GRAPHIC)</figcaption></figure>“Furthermore, there was little indication that any funds were used to operate Sellman’s business or to construct [the victim’s] residence,” investigators wrote in the affidavit.“Out of the total amount advanced to Sellman, about $58,948 was used purely for personal gain,” the affidavit states.In deferred probation cases, there is no final judgment of guilt and defendants can avoid felony convictions if they abide by the terms and conditions of probation.After Sellman’s guilty plea, Sagan Groves, a teacher who taught three of Sellman’s children, delivered a victim-impact statement and spoke of their longtime friendship and Sellman’s eventual betrayal of their trust as they discussed plans with her for their “forever home.”“What I once believed were the actions of an excited, genuine friend, I now know were simply the actions and excitement of a calculating thief who had found her next victim,” Sagan Groves said. “As our friend, we trusted you in this process, and were also happy to pay someone we considered a friend for a job she was confident in completing.”As Groves spoke, West admonished Sellman to pay attention to her words so she would grasp the impact her actions had on the Groves family.“Through the countless lies, deceit and intentional manipulation, we painfully learned that you did not value our friendship in the same way we valued yours,” Sagan Groves said. “We truly trusted you, and considered you a true friend, but you looked at us and saw nothing more than an opportunity to steal our money and selfishly benefit yourself. You stole money from my children and my family in order to portray a lavish lifestyle that benefitted none other than yourself.”Sellman was placed on felony deferred probation in April after she pleaded no contest in Falls County to stealing $130,000 from a widow who hired her to build a home.Sellman also made restitution to the woman as part of the Falls County plea agreement. Also, District Attorney Jody Gilliam agreed to dismiss two related state jail felony theft cases against Sellman after she made restitution to two Waco vendors - $8,316 to Loop 340 Overhead Door and $10,247 to Williams Drywall Co.Sellman contracted with the woman to build a new home for her near Chilton in northwestern Falls County in December 2023 and took $130,000 from the woman to do the job, officials said.</div></body>

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WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A former contractor who already is on felony probation for stealing money from a 68-year-old widow in Falls County was placed on probation again Friday in a similar scam involving a Woodway police captain and his wife. Andress Sellman, 34, who lives now in Bell County,...

Former contractor placed on probation for second time in home construction scams

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WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A former contractor who already is on felony probation for stealing money from a 68-year-old widow in Falls County was placed on proba

Former contractor placed on probation for second time in home construction scams

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