A former collection agency owner will remain free on bail even though he may have violated a court order by accruing almost $3,000 in rental car debts the past month.

Utah County prosecutors Monday asked 4th Circuit Court Judge Fred Howard to revoke the bail of Robert H. Paisola. They claim Paisola used a credit card to rent a car after he was ordered by the court not to use credit. Investigators allege that Paisola, who has a court-appointed attorney because he couldn't afford to hire his own, spent $2,800 to rent a Lincoln Continental."He's a threat to the public when he's out," Utah County Deputy Attorney Jim Taylor said.

Paisola, 28, is awaiting a preliminary hearing March 28 on 24 felony counts. He is currently free on $100,000 bail. When Howard set Paisola's bail several months ago, he ordered him not to use a credit card.

Paisola said the car was not charged to his credit card. He only gave an imprint of the card to secure payment. He told the court he has family resources and plans to pay the debt.

"I always have and always will," he said.

Howard told Paisola that he violated the intent of the court order, but he rejected the prosecution's request. He ordered Paisola to pay the debt by the end of the week and not to use a credit card in any way.

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County investigators allege that Paisola's company, Credit Control, scammed clients out of thousands of dollars the past few years. According to a court affidavit, the collection agency and credit assistance service collected money but failed to turn the funds over to clients. Paisola allegedly collected more than $60,000 for West One Bank but only turned over about $4,000.

Investigators also allege that Paisola told clients that he could clean up credit reports for a fee. Several clients paid Credit Control $3,000, but their credit reports were never changed. Investigators also allege that Paisola obtained loans for clients to consolidate debt but spent the funds on personal expenses.

Paisola is charged with 22 counts of theft by deception, one count of racketeering and one count of insurance fraud. Most of the charges are second-degree felonies, punishable by a sentence of one to 15 years in prison.

Andrew Finn, 24, a vice president of Credit Control, pleaded guilty last year to six felony counts of theft and is serving a six-month sentence in the Utah County Jail.

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