Owners of Holly Christina Photography face criminal charges as bride seeks justice

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- An ABC11 Troubleshooter investigation into a Raleigh wedding photography company accused of taking nearly $1 million from couples without providing promised services has taken a new turn.

The owners of Holly Christina Photography, Christopher Owen Ayscue and Holly Scott Ayscue, are now facing criminal charges in addition to an ongoing civil lawsuit filed by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson.

Newlywed Morgan Bales says she pushed for criminal charges because she felt it was the only way to seek justice.

"I felt as if justice wasn't being served to me or every other bride," Bales said.

According to arrest warrants, Bales signed a contract with Holly Christina Photography last summer and paid $5,691 for photography services for her March wedding.

The warrants allege the business closed before her wedding, failed to provide the contracted services, and never refunded her money.

Both Christopher Owen Ayscue and Holly Scott Ayscue are each charged with one felony count of obtaining property by false pretense in connection with Bales' case.

"Having close to $6,000 taken from you and no sign of getting it back, I needed to see some kind of justice served just so I could leave it alone," Bales said.

She says losing thousands of dollars just weeks before her wedding created added financial stress because she had to quickly find another photographer.

"Having that money taken and then having to come up with more money to hire a new photographer six weeks before the wedding, when all final payments are already due, was a bit stressful," she said.

Fortunately, Bales was able to find another photographer in time and says her wedding day was beautifully captured.

The criminal charges come as the North Carolina Attorney General's Office continues its civil lawsuit against Holly Christina Photography and its owners.

The lawsuit followed an ABC11 Troubleshooter investigation that began in January. A judge has already granted a preliminary injunction against the company and its owners after the Attorney General's Office received more than 217 consumer complaints alleging approximately $1 million in financial losses.

That investigation is still ongoing. Throughout the Troubleshooter investigation, ABC11 has helped several couples obtain refunds, and others recover their wedding photos. However, many customers say they are still waiting for either their money or their images.

Christopher Owen Ayscue and Holly Scott Ayscue are scheduled to appear in court in August. ABC11 has reached out to both for comment multiple times but has not received a response.