According to court documents filed June 29, 2026, Daks Clifford Barnard, 36, of Frisco, Texas, has been charged with Theft by Deception (M1) and Deceptive Business Practices – Sale Less Than Quantity (M1). The charges stem from an investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigation Unit in Schuylkill Haven.
Police allege the case began on Nov. 13, 2024, when a Schuylkill Haven Borough resident purchased a Steiner DBAL-A3 Dual Beam Aiming Laser with IR LED illuminator through Barnard's online business, Night Vision Network. The item, including shipping, reportedly cost $1,589.95.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the victim received an email confirming the order and later another notification indicating the item had shipped. However, investigators say the product was never delivered, and repeated attempts by the customer to contact the company went unanswered.
State police said the victim reported the incident in November 2025 after nearly a year had passed without receiving the product or a refund. During the investigation, troopers found multiple online complaints alleging similar issues involving Night Vision Network and noted that a social media post made by the company in May 2025 acknowledged it had accepted orders that were not fulfilled and apologized to customers while stating it was working to resolve the backlog.
Investigators also identified Barnard as the principal owner of the business through open-source records and said they discovered civil debt collection and contract-related lawsuits filed against Barnard and the company in Texas in 2025.
The affidavit states that an Austin, Texas, police officer checked the business address in November 2025 and found the location appeared unoccupied, with signs removed and the property seemingly abandoned.
Police further reported that Barnard's father, Wayne Barnard, contacted investigators during the case and explained that the business experienced financial difficulties after an issue involving its Shopify account allegedly resulted in funds from customer orders being withheld. According to the affidavit, he told investigators he had been attempting to help fulfill outstanding orders but later reported that Daks Barnard had left the United States and was no longer managing the business.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 28, 2026, before Magisterial District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek in Orwigsburg. The case remains active. As with all criminal cases, the charges are allegations, and Barnard is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.