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Escambia County board moves Shooting Stars Construction case to disciplinary hearing over alleged unlicensed activity and permit violations
Summary
The board found probable cause on three alleged violations arising from a homeowner complaint that payments were made to an unlicensed contractor and that permits were not properly obtained, and voted to send the matter to a disciplinary hearing.
The Escambia County Contractor Competency Board voted Aug. 6 to move a complaint against Christopher W. Brown, doing business as Shooting Stars Construction LLC, to a formal disciplinary hearing. Staff presented an investigative report based on a homeowner complaint by Jakeema McCorvey (case number 250649COM) alleging that an unlicensed person, identified in the complaint as Carl Likely of Likely Enterprises, performed work and received payments on a new single‑family dwelling and accessory structure while relying on Brown’s license to obtain permits.
According to staff’s summary of the investigation, McCorvey entered a contract dated March 31, 2023, for $180,000 and paid $50,000 to Likely Enterprises. Staff said McCorvey produced evidence of additional payments to subcontractors and to Likely totaling approximately $75,000. City permitting records in staff exhibits show a stop‑work order on July 7, 2023, a permit issued July 31, 2023, and an accessory‑structure permit dated Aug. 8, 2023. Staff alleged violations of county code, including Chapter 18, section 18‑37(c)(3) (knowingly combining with or conspiring with an uncertified or unregistered person), section 18‑37(d)(10) (abandonment), and section 18‑37(d)(15)(b) (proceeding on a job without obtaining required local permits or inspections).
Respondent Christopher W. Brown attended with counsel Robert Allen. Allen argued that work did not constitute substandard performance, that Shooting Stars had supervised the work and paid expenses, and that some contract materials and attachments appeared to be in the complainant’s handwriting rather than the alleged unlicensed contractor’s. Investigator Jennifer Reber and staff presented exhibits including the contract, proof of payments, permit history, a stop‑work notice and photographs of the project. After discussion, a motion carried unanimously to move all three alleged violations to a disciplinary hearing for formal adjudication.
The board did not make findings of guilt at the probable‑cause stage; it voted only to proceed to a disciplinary hearing where evidence will be examined in detail.
