Couple staged hate crime; sentenced for fraud

Houston Chronicle ^ | 8/20/03 | DALE LEZON

[truthandlife]

A Klein couple who had claimed their house was burned in a hate crime admitted staging the blaze to collect on insurance.

Nicholas Gatlin, 31, pleaded guilty Monday to arson and insurance fraud and was sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison, said Harris County Assistant District Attorney Steve Baldassano.

His wife, Tracey Gatlin, also 31, pleaded guilty to insurance fraud and received four years deferred adjudication. They also must pay $13,000 in restitution to Allstate, the company that insured the home, Baldassano added.

The couple claimed their house in the 9800 block of Tassel Brook was torched Dec. 7. Racial slurs were discovered sprayed painted on the walls.

Nicholas Gatlin filed a claim for more than $100,000 with Allstate.

Fire investigators, however, said they recovered 18 forensic samples from inside the structure and all tested positive for gasoline or diesel fuel. A gas can was found in the living room.

Investigators also said they found more than 100 family keepsakes, including photo albums, medications, immunization records and the couple's marriage license in their apartment after the blaze. Witnesses also told authorities they had seen items being removed from the house shortly before the 4 a.m. blaze.

Tracey Gatlin said she had salvaged mementoes from the garage after the fire. The couple claimed to have been in Louisiana at the time of the blaze.

[LurkedLongEnough]

What were they thinking?

[ChewedGum]

They were thinking about preserving some key things...and making lots of money. They thought wrong.

Gum

[Mears]

These are really stupid people but not too stupid to play the race game.Bet they got lots of sympathy!!!

[KayEyeDoubleDee]

My first reaction was that if they hadn't blamed it on a hate crime, there might not have been much of an investigation, but from the details, that wasn't their biggest mistake.

[Tacis]

Media bias? The header mentions "hate crime" and the text mentions "racial slurs." But, nowhere does it come out and say what was involved. The reader has to make assumptions. Were these black people and, if so, why is that fact being concealed? The paper has avoided saying anything bad about two folks.

Contrast this with the next white shooter who will be identified, up front, as a "troubled white religious conservative NRA member."

[OpusatFR]

You forgot the obese, middle-aged, semi-literate, Southerner part.... ( ;

....with a confederate battle flag in his pickup (or SUV), dog, and barefoot and pregnant wife.

[LibKill]

His wife, Tracey Gatlin, also 31, pleaded guilty to insurance fraud and received four years deferred adjudication.

In Texas that means if she commits another crime in the next four years she will be sentanced for this crime.

Otherwise she's home free.

How'd she get off so light?

Both of them should have gone for hard time.

[Tall_Texan]

I'll bet she got the "mommy" sentence. Women are often not held accountable because they are just the victim of the man's evil and, besides, it would be unfair to deprive her children of their mother.

Memo to women: If you commit a crime, make sure the children are kept safe. They are your ticket to staying out of jail. Crying and saying "I'm sorry" a lot (as well as blaming the men) will help save your hide too. Jurors fall for it practically every time.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Were these black people and, if so, why is that fact being concealed?

You noticed too huh?

[csvset]

"It ain't easy being sleazy."

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Why would rich white people do this kind of thing?

[hoaxbuster1]

The subject of hate crime hoaxes was the subject of testimony before the U. S. House Judiciary Committee in 1999.

This is a brief, but shocking read. As you'll learn....hate crime hoaxes are common, but the mainstream media all but ignores them.

http://www.house.gov/judiciary/jay0804.htm

[stripes1776]

Media bias? The header mentions "hate crime" and the text mentions "racial slurs." But, nowhere does it come out and say what was involved. The reader has to make assumptions. Were these black people and, if so, why is that fact being concealed? The paper has avoided saying anything bad about two folks.

Yes, an extemely poor piece of journalism to leave out the race of these people, since that was what this crime was about. To leave the reader guessing means that the writer is either mediocre or biased. Perhaps both.

[Old Sarge]

It's a vicious Republican lie.. oh, wait...

It's a clear case for reparatio... oh, damn...

The defense will show that this was nothing less than a heinous crime again...ummh...

IT'S BUSH'S FAULT! IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT!

Geez, that always seemed to work before, Terry...

[StriperSniper]

Yeah, the gas can in the living room is kinda obvious.

[Phantom Lord]

I am an avid follower of hate crime hoaxes. I have been trying for a long time to find a follow up story on an alleged hate crime that occured probably a year or so ago.

A lesbian claims that a couple of guys drove up beside her as she walked down the street. They jumped out of their car and attacked her, carving Dyke into her forearm (or was it stomach?) as well as other physical things. After the original story it all but vanished.

If you know the crime I am talking about I would love an update on it if you know of one. Thanks!

[Chad Fairbanks]

If I recall correctly, it was a hoax -

forensics determined that the word "Dyke" carved into her stomach was upside down... ;0)

[hoaxbuster1]

Sent a private reply also; had heard about that hoax, but never found anything much about it.

Speaking of hoaxes, a freerepublic post of a couple of years ago bears a revisit. A different kind of hoax....

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b162c814960.htm

[Chad Fairbanks]

Oops... wrong one - was thinking of the black lady with 'KKK' carved into her chest backwards... oops...