“To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen was accused of issuing bad checks and failing to pay thousands of dollars to a vendor for marketing materials.
Hansen, 59, of Shippan, Connecticut, turned himself into police over the bounced checks on Monday and was charged with “issuing a bad check,” Stamford Police told Fox News. He was released without bond and signed a PTA or a promise to appear in court, police said.
Hansen reportedly asked Peter Psichopaidas, the owner of Promotional Sales LTD, for mugs, decals and T-shirts for marketing events in 2017, the Stamford Advocate reported, citing an arrest affidavit. The goods totaled $12,998.05 and the former MSNBC host agreed to pay for the items in full before they were delivered. An employee who worked for Hansen sent a check for the items three months after they received invoices for the materials. When the check bounced, Hansen apparently apologized to Psichopaidas and said he would make a partial payment.
The business owner filed a police complaint in April 2017, after he did not receive any payment.
Investigator Sean Coughlin contacted Hansen, who said he would make a statement at the Stamford police station — but he never went. He also said his wife would deliver a check but she never did, the arrest affidavit stated, according to the Stamford Advocate.
Psichopaidas said he received a check from Hansen for $13,200 in April 2018 but it bounced, the arrest affidavit stated. Hansen wrote in an email to Psichopaidas regarding the bounced check that he “sold a boat” to cover the payment.
“Peter … I truly thought I had this covered,” the “To Catch a Predator host, according to the affidavit. “I am scrambling to get it done. Please give me till the end of the day. I sold a boat to cover the rest of this and need to pick up the payment this afternoon.”
However, Hansen allegedly did not write another check. Police said Hansen wouldn’t speak to officers before an arrest warrant was issued.
Hansen came to notoriety after hosting the MSNBC reality show “To Catch a Predator,” in which he exposed predators who believed they were speaking to underage children.
