July 6, 2009

• News:  Man Uses Stolen CC to Buy Stolen Goods

  Here's what you really call double dipping. A Richmond Kentucky man and his girlfriend pawned some items which they had stolen from his parent's home and then later tried to buy the items back using a stolen credit card. Michael C. Shoopman and his girlfriend, Marisa Nichole Pearson allegedly stole a mandolin, guitar, Sony PlayStation 3 video game console from Shoopman's parent's home. Then they set fire to the home. Detective Pat Alford testified at a hearing in June that he believes the two set fire to the home to conceal the theft. At the time of the fire, authorities searched through the ruins for the mandolin and were unable to locate it. A few months later, Shoopman and a female returned to the pawn shop to buy the items back using a credit card. It was later determined the credit card was stolen.

  An investigation by the Madison County police revealed that Pearson had used the credit card charging over $1,500 without authorization from the cardholder. A warrant was issued charging both Shoopman and Pearson with second-degree arson for setting fire to Shoopman's parent's home and credit card theft. At the time the warrant was issued, Shoopman was already being held at the Henderson County Detention Center on unrelated charges.

  Following the hearing, Senior Judge David Hayse sent the case to the Madison County grand jury, charging both Shoopman and Pearson with arson. Although there is a slight possibility that the fire was started by faulty electrical, Judge Hayse felt the evidence against the two were strong enough to make a case. The credit card fraud charges were not mentioned as part of the charges being forwarded to the grand jury. Both Pearson and Shoopman were held on 10% of a $50,000 cash bond. No date was given when the grand jury would be reviewing the case.
  
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