William Tipton, 31, and his wife Frayba Tipton, 35, lost their upscale eastern Tracy home to a suspected arson fire in July last year that nearly killed several firefighters.
An arrest warrant was issued last week for A+ Realty and Mortgage owner Frayba Tipton on charges that she burned down her Fabin Drive home and tried to defraud insurance companies. Her husband was booked last week on those same charges plus an additional charge of grand theft.
William Tipton — who used to own West Coast Realty and Mortgage in Tracy — was sent to the San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp before his court hearing on Monday, where he showed up with a private attorney. Because of overcrowding at the jail, William Tipton was released the day after without having to post his $300,000 bail.
The court today allowed the couple to remain free of their own recognizance, despite a request by San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Tom Morris to at least take Frayba Tipton into custody. Her husband, Morris suggested, could take care of their six children, who range in age from 5 months to 17 years old.
The court said the Tiptons could stay out of custody on condition that they don’t do anything with their cars, that they keep all their appointments with attorneys and the court and that they surrender their passports and not leave the state.
Frayba Tipton, an American citizen who moved to the United State in 1984 from Afghanistan, still has a passport to that country. Morris argued that another reason the court should consider sending her to jail is because she can transfer money to relatives or meet friends and family there if she chose to leave.
Prosecutors said the Tiptons still have several sports and luxury cars that they tried to cash in on through insurance companies after claiming they were destroyed in a fire. But witnesses have seen them in possession of the defendants very recently, Morris said, calling the alleged crimes “premeditated.”
The prosecutor also said that the couple tried to claim insurance money for a pair of jet skis they reported stolen, even though Morris alleged that they were really handed over to an acquaintance.
The Tiptons entered no pleas today in court, where Frayba Tipton appeared dressed in a sleek black dress and oversized sunglasses and her husband showed up dressed in a grey pinstriped suit. Their attorney Timothy Rein advised the couple to stay seated on opposite sides of the small courtroom during the proceeding until they were called by the judge.
San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Franklin Stephenson ordered the pair back in court at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 8 for further arraignment. Frayba Tipton was told to go to jail on Sept. 26 so authorities can take her fingerprints, photo and other information before releasing her again at least until her next court date.
•Contact Tracy Press reporter Jennifer Wadsworth at 830-4225 or jwadsworth@tracypress.com.
just wondering
Doesn't matter really, every faith has bad apple.
Just wishing their children would not be exposed to the humiliation they may feel towards this case. Not sure if the older children may be aware of their wrongdoings, if so.. I just hope they will not follow their parent's example of shady dealings in real estate/businesses. Scamming is wrong, period.
It is a shame to exploit the trusting clients, reaping money while they struggle. Just so wrong and sad. Heartless, too.
CN
Wow, six kids? Are they Mormon...?
Oh and I would have preferred to see 30 other non-violent people released instead of him. You mean to tell me there was not anyone else with way less bail that they could have let go. Common SJ County!