Ex-Olympian a no-show in court

A bench warrant was issued for a former U.S. Olympian during Flathead District Court proceedings Thursday morning.

The warrant was issued after Brian Spencer, 50, of Moorepark, Calif., failed to appear in court for his arraignment on a felony charge of deceptive practices over a 2011 incident.

Spencer was a member of the 1984 Olympic U.S. men’s field hockey team and is on the current U.S. men’s over-45 field hockey team.

According to his attorney, Spencer is in Louisiana and had assured his attorney that if the hearing is rescheduled he would buy a plane ticket immediately to ensure his attendance.

Flathead County Deputy Attorney Alison Howard noted that Thursday’s date had been previously set and Spencer should have bought a plane ticket for that hearing. She also said the hearing had been continued once already.

Howard said Spencer initially was arrested while disembarking from a plane in California. He is currently out on a $15,000 bond he paid on Aug. 29.

The hearing was rescheduled for Nov. 1.

A court document alleges the victim was building a house and having trouble with his general contractor when he was told by Spencer’s sister, with whom he had attended school, that Spencer was a contractor and she could put them in contact with one another.

After the victim and Spencer spoke over the phone, Spencer visited to look at the project, gave the victim a proposal and told the victim he could save him a lot of money.

The document stated that once the two agreed that Spencer and his company, Spencer Restoration and Remediation, would complete the job, Spencer returned to California. He again contacted the victim on July 13, 2010, asking for $5,000 to cover the expenses of a Montana business license, contractor license and workers’ compensation insurance.

The victim sent the check to Spencer, who cashed it in South Dakota, but the document alleges neither Spencer nor his workers ever showed up.

The victim reportedly later determined that Spencer never paid for any of the licenses or fees.

The victim then contacted the person who had endorsed the check, who told the victim he would have Spencer return the money, but nothing was ever returned.

The court document states that the victim determined Spencer was not an officer or member of Spencer Restoration and that it was not a legitimate business “but was being used to hide assets from creditors, and that there were outstanding judgments and tax liens against Brian Spencer in the state of California.”

If convicted, Spencer faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000, as well as having to pay any necessary restitution.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.