Boswell gets prison time

PRINCETON — Max Boswell, 59, of Ottawa pleaded guilty to the Class 4 felony of theft/subsequent offense on Sept. 15 before Associate Circuit Judge C.J. Hollerich. Boswell was sentenced to an extended prison term of three and one-half years and also ordered to pay court costs within six months of his release from the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Boswell is currently on probation in LaSalle County for aggravated home repair fraud. He also has convictions in Woodford County for aggravated home repair fraud and a felony conviction for delivery of a controlled substance in LaSalle County.

On April 3, a 68-year-old Bureau County man reported he had been swindled, saying a man named Max Boswell said he had been sent by the county to inspect the victim’s lightening rod system.

After inspecting the victim’s roof and being on the roof for about 45 minutes, Boswell presented the victim with a $721 bill. Boswell claimed he had installed 96 feet of cable and worked for six hours. Authorities determined Boswell had not been sent by any county official and had overcharged the victim by about $5 per foot of cable.