WOMAN AND BOYFRIEND CONVICTED OF CONSPIRING TO HAVE ESTRANGED HUSBAND ARRESTED BY FILING FOUR FALSE POLICE REPORTS

WOMAN AND BOYFRIEND CONVICTED OF CONSPIRING TO HAVE ESTRANGED HUSBAND ARRESTED BY FILING FOUR FALSE POLICE REPORTS

FULLERTON – A woman and her boyfriend were convicted today of conspiring to have the woman’s estranged husband, a high school teacher, arrested for crimes he had not committed by filing false police reports. Devon Eileen Abbott, 33, Mira Loma, and Soloman Brian Silver, 42, Portland, Maine, pleaded guilty on one felony count of conspiracy to falsely charge a crime, one felony count of false imprisonment by fraud, one felony count of conspiracy to commit a crime. Abbott also pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of transportation of marijuana. Silver also pleaded guilty to one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon and was sentenced to three years in state prison. Abbott, who pleaded to the court, was sentenced to a maximum of one year home confinement over the objection of the People, who advocated for state prison time.

Between May 15, 2008, and May 27, 2008, Abbott and her boyfriend Silver conspired to hide a shotgun, marijuana, and prescription pills in the victim’s vehicle and file false police reports with the intention of having Abbott’s estranged husband, Gregory Abbott, arrested for crimes he did not commit. The defendants exchanged several text messages in which Abbott provided Silver with the location of the victim’s car, the victim’s parents’ home, and the victim’s whereabouts.  Abbott instructed Silver to keep an eye on the victim, offered to use her children to locate the victim over the phone, and discussed how best to get rid of evidence.

At approximately 11:05 a.m. on May 26, 2008, Silver used an alias and called the California Highway Patrol to falsely report that a man had pulled a shotgun on someone and fled in his vehicle, and provided a detailed description of Gregory Abbott’s car. At approximately 4:20 p.m., Silver anonymously called and filed a false report with the Brea Police Department and claimed that a “guy,” Gregory Abbott, was pointing a gun at vehicles while driving. At approximately 7:05 p.m., Silver called and filed a false report with the Placentia Police Department, claiming that a man had pointed a shotgun at his face, and providing a detailed description of the victim’s vehicle and location.

At approximately 9:40 a.m. on May 27, 2008, Silver called and filed a false report with the Fullerton Police Department, claiming that Gregory Abbott had just sold him drugs and was on campus at Sunny Hills High School, where the victim worked as a teacher. Fullerton police officers responded to the call and located the firearm and drugs in Gregory Abbott’s car. At around the time that the victim was arrested, the defendants texted “YES ITS GONNA HAPPEN!” and “WE F***** GOT HIM!” [sic]

Fullerton police detectives, who were assisted by the Anaheim Police Department, arrested Abbott and Silver late Friday, June 20, 2008. Deputy District Attorney Keith Bogardus of the Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted this case.