Ex-officer sentenced for insurance fraud

Friday, Oct. 2, 1998 | 4:42 a.m.

Charles and Kathleen Chapman were sentenced to 1,000 hours each of community service, each given a suspended 2-year prison sentence and ordered to jointly pay $26,000 in restitution.

El Dorado Superior Court Judge Jerald Lasarow commended District Attorney Paul Sutherland for bringing the charges. Mrs. Chapman also served in law enforcement.

"I would imagine you would get two reactions," Lasarow said. "One from the public saying, 'Good, you did it.' And another from law enforcement saying, 'Why did you have to do it to one of us?"'

Chapman said he respected the court and the District Attorney's office.

"We walked in here with dignity and will walk out the same," he said. "We respect what you say."

The Chapmans were paid about $50,000 from the California Automobile Association after a March 1996 fire destroyed their mobile home.

A CSAA investigation revealed the Chapmans had to be living in the home to collect on the policy, but they weren't when it burned.

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