Judge Sentences Couple Who Admitted Shoplifting on Dr. Phil
A Southern California couple who appeared on Dr. Phil and admitted selling shoplifted toys on eBay will be going to prison.
A federal judge in San Diego sentenced Matthew Eaton of San Marcos to 27 months in prison; his wife, Laura Eaton, was sentenced to a year, according to stories in the Associated Press, the San Diego Union-Tribune and the North County Times.
The couple had told Dr. Phil they earned $100,000 selling the items. Prosecutors said more than 500 unopened toys were seized from the couple’s home, including LEGOs, Thomas the Tank Engine sets and Hot Wheels cars, according to the North County Times.
A lawyer for Matthew Eaton told U.S. District Judge Irma Gonzalez that the couple went on the show to get help with their shoplifting problem, but all they got was free copies of Phil McGraw’s books.
That prompted some criticism of Dr. Phil by Gonzalez, the stories say. “What a charlatan this man is; what a terrible, terrible situation to put yourself in,” Gonzalez said. “This is a man who says he is a doctor to help people, but he certainly didn’t help you.”
The show’s representatives did not comment when contacted by the North County Times.
