Couple committed insurance fraud while man was in jail

A 2022 Everett couple colluded to commit insurance fraud while the man was incarcerated, according to police, in charges filed Tuesday.

Ronald E. Valentine, 40, of Everett, and Jessica M. Showalter, 30, of Windber, were charged with filing false insurance, criminal attempt-claim theft by deception and insurance fraud at the felony level.

A special agent for the office of the Attorney General Insurance Fraud Section received information about an accident claim Showalter filed in January 2022.

Showalter reportedly reported that her Volkswagen Beetle slid on ice, causing her to strike Valentine's residence and causing damage to the vehicle, including the hood and the rear passenger side of the vehicle.

The insurance company concluded an examination and concluded that the accident described could not have happened, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Valentine was arrested in January 2022, before the alleged accident date, and had reportedly told Everett police Showalter's vehicle was inoperable at the time.

A friend of Showalter's alleged Showalter was borrowing her vehicle when Valentine was pulled over and arrested in January 2022.

The Everett police officer reported he arrested Valentine for an outstanding warrant after a traffic stop in which she was driving a PT Cruiser.

Phone call records from the Bedford jail revealed there were several calls between Valentine and Showalter regarding insurance claims. Valentine reportedly agreed to go along with Showalter's plan to damage her vehicle and file a claim.

Showalter claimed she lost control of her vehicle in the icy driveway of her Everett residence and struck the hose, causing damage to the front bumper, hood, headlight and garage door. Showalter allegedly claimed the rear of the vehicle came around and damaged an AC unit.

The insurance company said there was no damage to the front bumper of Showalter's vehicle, and the garage door had the same damage from a previous claim.

Valentine reportedly claimed to the insurance company that Showalter's vehicle only needed minor work and could have been operable after small fixes. He also claimed the garage door had been replaced after the previous claim, according to reports.

During an interview with police, Showalter reportedly said the plan was Valentine's and that it had been discussed before he was arrested. She alleged she ran into the garage door purposely to cause damage.

Valentine reportedly told police that Showalter's vehicle was inoperable at the time of the incident and denied having a conversation with Showalter about the insurance claim before he was arrested.

Valentine had filed a claim on his residence because of the claim Showalter filed, according to reports.

He reportedly admitted that there was no damage to his house because of the claim Showalter filed.

Bail was set at $50,000 unsecured for Valentine and Showalter. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Dec. 20.