A Jefferson County District Court jury on Thursday found a contractor guilty of defrauding an 82-year-old woman and exposing a neighborhood to asbestos.

Lance Slayton was found guilty of criminal exploitation and theft of an at-risk person, intentionally causing and contributing to a hazardous substance incident and two other charges related to the Air Quality Control Act in connection to a series of incidents throughout the summer of 2022, according to a news release from the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.

The Colorado grand jury previously indicted Slayton in June 2023, leading to the eventual Jefferson County trial.

The charges stem from incidents between May and September 2022 in which Slayton worked through his companies — Preferred Companies LLC and Colorado Catastrophe Assistance Program — to abate asbestos and restore a fire-damaged unit at the 82-year-old woman’s property.

During the contracted work, Slayton hired unlicensed workers and intentionally dumped a hazardous substance at the property, according to the press release. Though Slayton was paid over $70,000 for the work, he did not complete the project and left the property unsafe and noncompliant with state environmental regulations.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment found “serious public health violations” at the property, according to the release. These violations included improper removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials and failure to prevent hazardous emissions.

Another defendant in the case, Christina Becker, is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 9.

Slayton is being held without bond in the Jefferson County jail and is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 20.

“This case highlights the grave consequences of putting profit over safety and the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens,” Attorney General Phil Weiser said in the release. “A jury found that Slayton deceived an elderly woman, stole tens of thousands of dollars from her and exposed workers and the public to dangerous asbestos contamination.”