A contractor accused of defrauding multiple Ontario cottage owners for renovation projects has pleaded guilty to seven of the 13 fraud-related charges against him.
Scott Eisemann, 54, faced charges including nine counts of fraud over $5,000, three counts of false pretense, and one count of mischief to property. The guilty plea was entered at the Ontario Court of Justice in Orillia after an arrangement was reached.
The charges stemmed from complaints by cottage owners in Parry Sound, Georgian Bay, Orillia, and the Muskoka region. Allegedly hired for renovation or construction work, Eisemann’s company, Cottage Life Construction, reportedly failed to initiate or complete the contracted projects.
The guilty plea follows an investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and complaints from several cottage owners. The charges against Eisemann were laid after multiple OPP investigations revealed alleged fraudulent practices.
Eisemann, also known as Scott Evan and Scott Daniels, had previously faced legal issues and served a two-year prison sentence in 2014 for defrauding a legally blind 92-year-old Toronto woman of her life savings. After completing his sentence, he started Cottage Life Construction in September 2016. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2020, leaving clients and contractors owed over $300,000.
During the current trial, the Crown prosecutor has proposed a “significant penitentiary sentence” and several restitution orders. Eisemann’s next court date is scheduled for February 8, where a finalized agreed statement of facts is expected to be presented, and the judge will address sentencing.
The guilty plea brings a sense of relief to some of the victims, who had accused Eisemann of abandoning projects after receiving substantial payments. The case highlights the importance of legal action against contractors engaged in fraudulent practices, seeking justice for affected property owners.
