PARIS – A former salesman at Turn Key Homes on Route 26 was arrested Thursday on a charge of stealing $12,000 in fees on a modular home construction project.

David Arthur Cummings, 32, of 12 Bow St. in Otisfield was charged with felony theft by deception after an arrest warrant was issued Thursday, Paris police Sgt. Michael Dailey said.

He was taken to the Oxford County Jail, where he is being held on $12,000 cash bail.

Dailey said Cummings collected two $6,000 cash payments at the beginning of July and the beginning of August from a customer as initial installments to start construction of a modular home.

“Apparently it’s pretty common for the salespersons to do their own collections,” Dailey said. “The money was the business’ money, but it was never turned in,” he added.

The arrest came the same day the Sun Journal published a story saying Cummings had been missing for three weeks, and his family was seeking help to find him.

Oxford County Sheriff’s Department Capt. James P. Miclon said Cummings called the Sheriff’s Department when he saw the story in the paper. Cummings said he wasn’t missing, and agreed to meet Cpl. Chris Wainwright on Western Avenue to verify his identity so that his name could be taken off the missing persons roster.

When Cummings arrived, Wainwright arrested him.

Dailey said Paris police were informed Wednesday of the theft by Turn Key Homes owner Todd Truman. Truman could not be reached for comment.

Cummings had worked for more than a year at the 3-year-old company, Dailey said.

Paris police were not aware that a missing person bulletin had been filed on Cummings until they talked to Miclon, Dailey said.

Miclon said his department was unaware of any theft allegations until Paris police contacted him Wednesday.

“I don’t want to give the impression that we were using a missing persons report to arrest this guy,” he said.

The report stated that Cummings was last seen Aug. 5 by his landlord, and has had problems in the past dealing with personal issues and had made threats of suicide.

Miclon said he is piecing together the man’s whereabouts through the use of his debit card. He said Cummings has spent time in the Portland and Kittery areas, as well as in Norway and Waterford, he said.

Dailey said that if Cummings does not make bail, he will be arraigned Monday in Oxford County Superior Court.