Rodney Durbin, 52, of Belle, has been ordered to repay $25,141 and serve 30 days of shock incarceration in the Maries County Jail at his probation officer’s discretion after pleading guilty on charges of deceptive business practices, financial exploitation of an elder/disabled person.

Durbin, who was Maries County Court on May 20, was charged in June 2022 by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s Office, at the request of Maries County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Skouby, on nine felony charges that included six counts of deceptive business practices and three counts of financial exploitation of an elder/disabled person. After two years of litigation, Durbin accepted a plea deal that suspended a total of 24 years in the Department of Corrections.

The plea deal included six charges of deceptive business practice — a felony conviction, and a four year incarceration for each charge to be served concurrent in the department of corrections. However, the prison sentence was suspended with conditions during a five year probationary period.

According to Durbin must abide by the following conditions:

• Shall not violate any federal or state law or any city ordinance;

• Must follow a course of good behavior;

• Shall fully and completely cooperate with the board of Probation and Parole and the probation officer assigned to supervise him;

• Must report any changes in residential or mailing address to the court within 10 days of the change;

• Pay all court costs, including CVC judgment payable to the Maries County Circuit Clerk’s Office in full within 180 days;

• Notify his probation officer with 48 hours if he has contact with any law enforcement officer;

• Submit to chemical testing of his blood, breath or urine to determine usage of alcohol or controlled substance at the request of his probation officer;

• Submit to searches of his person, residence, automobile, or possessions at the request of law enforcement:

• Pay restitution in the case totaling $25,141 to the State of Missouri in minimum monthly payments not less than $400 on the 15th of each month until paid in full. He is not to be released from probation until restitution is paid in full; and

• Serve 30 days of shock time in Maries County Jail at the discretion of his probation officer without credit for previous time served.

If Durbin fails to meet the conditions of the probation over the next five years, the judgment outlines the following sentences be served concurrently:

• Serve a term of four years in the department of corrections for counts one, two, four, six, and seven;

• Serve seven years for counts three and eight in the Department of Corrections:

• Serve 10 years for count five in the Department of Corrections.

Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman commented on the case.

“Although it is unfortunate that the victims will not be compensated right away, I am relieved that Rodney Durbin has finally confessed to his crimes of exploiting the elderly and running a deceitful business,” said Heitman about Durbin who owned and operated Honey Do’s Handyman Service in Belle. “Given his long history of criminal behavior, he has been fortunate to avoid prison time and only receive probation. It is truly heartbreaking to see how his actions have affected so many vulnerable elderly individuals. It is despicable that criminals would prey on our elderly in such a way.”

Skouby said he was happy to receive help from the Attorney General’s Office.

“The Attorney General’s Office quarterbacked the back half of that thing,” he said. “I know a lot of people wanted to see (Durbin) go to prison, but if he goes to prison, nobody’s going to get their money back. The AG’s office did the right thing working to get restitution.”