FULLERTON – A woman and her boyfriend appeared in court today after being accused of conspiring to have the woman’s estranged husband – a Sunny Hills High School teacher – arrested for crimes he had not committed, authorities said.
Devon Eileen Abbott, 33, of Mira Loma, and Soloman Brian Silver, 42, of Portland, Maine, appeared at the North Justice Center in Fullerton for an arraignment hearing this morning, which was continued to July 10.
Abbott’s bail was set at $50,000 and Silver’s bail was set at $750,000 by Superior Court Judge Roger B. Robbins. They are being held at the Orange County Jail.
Abbott’s bail was decreased by Judge Robbins and Silver’s bail remained the same because he poses a greater flight risk, said Farrah Emami of the District Attorney’s Office.
Abbott and Silver were arrested late Friday by Fullerton police detectives, with the assistance of the Anaheim Police Department. They each face one felony count of conspiracy to falsely charge a crime, one felony count of false imprisonment by fraud, one felony count of conspiracy to commit a crime, one felony count of second-degree vehicular burglary, and one felony count of transportation of marijuana.
If convicted, Abbott and Silver each face a maximum sentence of six years and eight months in state prison.
"This is a very unique case because of the nature of the conspiracy and to have a man falsely arrested and charged with a crime makes it very unusual," said Deputy District Attorney Keith Bogardus.
Police say the "elaborate setup" by Abbott and Silver resulted in the arrest of Greg Abbott on May 27 at Sunny Hills High after an anonymous caller told police Abbott was a drug dealer with a gun in the trunk of his car.
Two days later, Fullerton police held a news conference to announce that Abbott had been cleared of any wrongdoing. Police named Abbott's estranged wife, Devon Abbott, 33, and a male acquaintance of hers as persons of interest in the case.
Abbott and Silver are accused of conspiring to hide a shotgun, marijuana and prescription pills in the victim’s vehicle and filing false police reports with the intention of having Abbott’s estranged husband, Gregory Abbott, arrested for crimes he did not commit between May 15 and May 27, authorities say.
The investigation revealed that Abbott and Silver exchanged several text messages in which Abbott provided Silver with the location of the victim’s car, the victim’s parents’ home, and the victim’s whereabouts, authorities say.
Abbott is also accused of instructing Silver to keep an eye on the victim, offering to use her children to locate him over the phone, and discussing how best to get rid of evidence.
A day before Abbott was arrested at the high school, Silver is accused of using an alias, calling the California Highway Patrol and falsely reporting that a man had pulled a shotgun on someone and fled in his vehicle, authorities say. Silver then allegedly gave a detailed description of Gregory Abbott’s car.
Hours later, Silver is accused of anonymously calling and filing a false report with the Brea Police Department and saying that a "guy" (Gregory Abbott), was pointing a gun at vehicles while driving.
A few hours after that, Silver is accused of calling and filing a false report with the Placentia Police Department, saying that a man had pointed a shotgun at Silver’s face, and providing a detailed description of the victim’s vehicle and location.
The next day, Abbott was arrested after Silver allegedly called anonymously and filed a false report, this time with the Fullerton Police Department. Silver told police that Abbott had just sold him drugs and was at Sunny Hills High School, where he worked as a teacher.
Police arrested Abbott after finding an unloaded shotgun and marijuana in his Jeep Cherokee in the school’s parking lot.
"Yes it’s gonna happen!" and "We (expletive) got him!" That’s a text message authorities say was exchanged between Abbott and Silver around the time the victim was arrested.
Abbott went on paid administrative leave after his arrest; he will return to the classroom next school year, officials say.
The Abbotts were married in 1997 and separated in 2005, according to Orange County Superior Court records. The Abbotts filed for divorce in February 2007, citing irreconcilable differences.
They have equal custody of their two children.
