Lawton Subcontractor Accused of $18K Hammer Damage After Payment Dispute

A Comanche County felony arrest warrant was issued Friday for John Thomas Blevins, 40, a Lawton subcontractor accused of causing roughly $18,000 in damage during a home remodel after a dispute over a few hundred dollars in pay. According to a probable cause affidavit by Detective Joshua Dawson, the homeowner paid $400 upfront plus an additional $200, then wrote a second $200 check when Blevins claimed the first wasn’t cashed. The conflict escalated through text messages in which Blevins allegedly threatened to remove everything he’d touched“with my hammer”and to flood the home by opening the water heater.

Investigators say the damage occurred between August 15 and September 28, and that Blevins sent the homeowner a photo after the fact. He’s charged with felony malicious injury to property over $1,000. Because of three prior felony convictions, he faces up to six years in prison, and bond on the cash warrant is set at $50,000.

The case is a hard reminder for anyone planning a remodel in Lawton: put the payment schedule in writing, keep every receipt, and be careful with upfront cash. If you’re browsing contractors this fall, check references and licenses before the first day of work. Have you ever had a renovation go wrong? Tell us how you handled it.