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Charges: Man Faked Son's Death To Get Out Of Work

HASTINGS, Minn. (WCCO) -- A Rockford, Minn. man is accused of faking his son's death in order to avoid doing work he'd been paid to perform.

According to the criminal complaint, William Jack Dauchenbaugh, 40, was paid about $3,000 by someone who had hired him to install a pole barn.

The charges state that Dauchenbaugh repeatedly told the victim that he had people set to build the pole barn, but work was never completed.

At one point, he allegedly told the victim his son had died in Texas and he had to go there to deal with it. Investigators determined that his son was alive and well.

Dauchenbaugh has been charged with three felony counts of swindle, theft and false representation.

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