The preliminary hearing will begin at 9 a.m. Sept. 26 in Department 14 at the Stockton courthouse, Deputy District Attorney J.C. Weydert said during a phone interview after the hearing.
It should be decided during the hearing whether there is sufficient evidence to charge William and Frayba Tipton with committing insurance fraud by allegedly setting fire to their Tracy home at 27771 S. Fagin Road on July 5, 2008.
William Tipton allegedly told lenders that he was going to stop making payments on a Ford Mustang because the car was destroyed in the fire. Authorities argue that he was seen driving the same car days after the fire.
According to court documents, the couple faces charges of making a fraudulent claim for insurance payment, defrauding an insurer, committing arson of one’s own property, knowingly assisting and conspiring to present false claims, and committing grand theft of personal property.
Frayba Tipton faces additional charges of forgery and perjury.
The prosecutor said Wednesday that the insurance fraud case was the last to go through the preliminary process, while the other charges continue toward trial.
“Sort of waiting for this preliminary, and then we can talk about all the cases together,” Weydert said. “Get this one in the same status as the others; until then, holding off on talking about trials.”
The couple’s lawyer, Russell Humphrey, was unavailable for comment Wednesday.
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