Man sentenced for insurance fraud

A domestic dispute that led to a standoff with Rexburg police has also led to a man going to jail for insurance fraud.

Seventh District Judge Gregory Moeller sentenced Kristopher Corey Butcher, 28, to eight years in prison, though the court suspended that sentence, ordering Butcher to serve 60 days in the Madison County Jail and placing him on probation for five years. Butcher must also pay a $1,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

Butcher, who is now living in Denton, Texas, had pleaded guilty to the insurance fraud charge in October.

The Idaho Attorney General’s Office said that by pleading guilty, Butcher admitted hiding some of his property and lying to the insurance company.

In April 2011, Butcher told the Rexburg Police Department his apartment had been burglarized. Butcher said guns, binoculars, a hunting scope, tools and his wife’s wedding ring were stolen during the burglary. Butcher then submitted an insurance claim for these items to American Family Insurance.

Later that month, police were called to Butcher’s apartment when his wife said he threatened to kill her and their baby.

A few hours later, police entered the apartment and took Butcher into custody. The charges against him in that case were dismissed.

When police searched the apartment, they found a rifle and a shotgun in the closet of his baby’s bedroom.

“Insurance fraud is a felony that impacts all Idahoans,” the attorney general’s office said. ” Anyone who witnesses or suspects insurance fraud is encouraged to contact the Idaho Department of Insurance at www.doi.idaho.gov.”