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Crime & Safety

Uninsured Contractor Case Delayed

Warfield was cited for not having worker's compensation insurance in San Bruno disaster-area contractor sting. He was ordered back in court on Feb. 23

A superior court judge on Wednesday issued a continuance at a plea hearing set for a Millbrae contractor accused of violating state labor law for work he did in the San Bruno disaster area in the aftermath of the deadly Sept. 9 pipeline blast.

William Warfield, 50, appeared in a South San Francisco courtroom without an attorney. He was ordered back in court for a plea hearing on Feb. 23. Warfield, who is a licensed contractor, faces up to a year in jail on misdemeanor charges for not having workers' compensation insurance for an employee while performing work in the affected area.

Warfield was among amid a multiagency sweep of the affected area by the California Department of Insurance, the Contractors State License Board and the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.    

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The other is Jason Pippin, 39, who is accused of contracting in a disaster area without a license. Pippin also faces two misdemeanors charges for advertising without a contractor's license and not having workers' compensation insurance.  

Pippin pleaded not guilty to all charges at a hearing last month. He is due back in court on March 10 for a superior court review.

Find out what's happening in San Brunowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Both men told San Bruno Patch earlier this month that they were in the affected area helping friends and were not charging for their services.

Pippin, who could face up to three years in state prison if convicted on all charges, told Patch he was repairing windows in a home for a relative of a friend. Pippin, who owns Connell's Glass Co. in Belmont, was swapping out a broken window when investigators approached him. He said his contractor's license had recently lapsed. 

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