CLEARFIELD – An already jailed cemetery caretaker was back in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing on new charges for alleged deceptive business practices at Crown Crest Memorial Park.
Edmund Arthur Grenier Jr., 70, of Reynoldsville has been charged with deceptive business practice, 30 counts; theft by deception, 30 counts; and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, 30 counts.
Also, his ex-wife, Brenda L. Grenier, 56, of Colonial Heights, Va., has been charged with deceptive business practice, 30 counts; theft by deception, 30 counts; theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, 30 counts; and theft by unlawful taking, two counts.
In two other cases, both Edmund and Brenda Grenier have also been charged with deceptive business practice; theft by deception; and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds.
Edmund Grenier was transported from the Jefferson County Prison for his hearing. He waived all charges against him to the Court of Common Pleas. However, Brenda Grenier failed to appear for her hearing, and a warrant will be requested due to issues with delivering her court notice.
According to the affidavits of probable cause, Grenier Enterprises Inc. allegedly failed to provide the gravestones, markers and related items purchased by families for their deceased loved ones who were buried at the Crown Crest Memorial Park located at 2122 Washington Ave., in Hyde in Lawrence Township.
The president of Grenier Enterprises Inc. was Edmund Grenier Jr. In a letter dated Sept. 12, 2013 and signed by Brenda Grenier, she identified herself as the secretary and treasurer of Grenier Enterprises Inc. She also identified herself as the secretary and treasurer and general business manager of Crown Crest Cemeteries.
In the same letter, Brenda Grenier identified her responsibilities within the corporation as being “completely” in charge of receiving and depositing all monies. She further explained that her responsibilities included “doing all banking, paying all bills and invoices and ordering all merchandise.”
On June 19, 2014, Brenda Grenier wrote three, different checks in the amounts of $319.08, $2,721.50 and $4,536.97 for a total of $7,577.55. She allegedly admitted to withdrawing the funds due to Edmund Grenier ending her regular salary from the business. Brenda Grenier hasn’t been associated with the day-to-day operations or maintenance of the business since 2011.
On March 11, police executed a search warrant at S&T Bank, DuBois, for any and all accounts registered or owned by Edmund and Brenda Grenier and Grenier Enterprises Inc.
On June 19, 2014, a check in the amount of $2,721.50 was written to cash and signed by Brenda Grenier on the payroll account for Grenier Enterprises Inc. This was the total amount of funds in this particular bank account.
On the same day, a check in the amount of $4,536.97 was written to cash and signed by Brenda Grenier on the Lake Lawn Memorial Park account owned by Grenier Enterprises Inc. This was the total amount of funds in this particular bank account.
On July 15, 1998, Edmund and Brenda Grenier entered into a stock purchase agreement in which he represented himself as the president of Grenier Enterprises Inc. In the agreement, $100,322.49 was transferred to Edmund Grenier for the purpose of a perpetual care account.
A section of the agreement also stipulated that $35,304 be transferred to Edmund Grenier for the purpose of a merchandise trust fund account. At the time of the sale, there were 59 pre-need bronze memorials, 291 pre-need scrolls and 81 pre-need openings and closings for a total value of $45,304.
According to the stock purchase agreement, Grenier Enterprises Inc. agreed to be solely responsible for supplying all of the pre-need liabilities and honoring all of the pre-need obligations of the company.