Shoplifters on 'Terrible' Dr. Phil Show Head to Prison

By Dino Sossi Posted Mar 23rd 2010 11:36AM

Dr. Phil McGraw was described as a "charlatan" by a federal judge as she sentenced a husband and wife, who revealed their shoplifting scheme on his show, to prison, reports The San Diego Union Tribune. Matthew and Nora Eaton from San Marcos bragged about their lucrative scheme of shoplifting toys and reselling them on the Web on the 'Dr. Phil' show. Matthew Eaton, 34, was sentenced to 27 months in prison.

Eaton's penalty exceeded what prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney's Office thought was sufficient punishment by one year. Gonzalez characterized Eaton's behavior during the two year scheme as "despicable." Eaton's wife Nora, 27, was sentenced to one year and one day in custody. The couple was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to transport stolen property. They pleaded guilty in December.

The lawyer representing Matthew Eaton said the couple agreed to be on the show to cope with their chronic shoplifting problem. However, their demeanor made them look like they were bragging. And although Dr. Phil presents himself as a person who cares, District Judge Irma Gonzalez told Matthew Eaton, "He obviously didn't help you."

"What a charlatan this man is," cried Gonzalez, describing the talk show host. "What a terrible, terrible man."

Approximately 500 boxes of toys were waiting to be shipped from the couple's home when federal law enforcement officials searched the premises following the broadcast in November 2008. They sold over $100,000 in stolen goods online between August 2006 and March 2009. Prosecutors recommended that Matthew Eaton be sentenced to 15 months in prison.

However, Judge Gonzalez thought that was too lenient. She believed the case was not simple shoplifting and continued for a long period of time, even after the television appearance -- where the couple was supposedly receiving help. Compounding the problem was a revelation by investigators that the Eatons had been trying to appear on 'Dr. Phil' for months, but for "weight loss" issues, not shoplifting. Gonzalez also thought Nora Eaton profited from the crime and deserved punishment, though to a lesser degree than her husband.

Defense lawyer Leila Morgan said show producers pushed the couple to exaggerate their case and that the only real help they received were free copies of McGraw's books. At least they will have something to read in prison.

Tags: dr. phil

Comments

(93)

Tuesday 23 March

By Stephanie

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Serves them right for going on national tv and bragging about illegal acts they were still involved in, even after the show aired. Can youn say stupid?

By myopinion

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Yes, very stupid, why would they not have chosen to cover there faces and voices? Oh well, they deserve to be locked up.

By Millie

I agree with you 100%

By whirpie

i kin sayin stupid. can youn?

By mrjimmyd1960

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I believe that These two are beyond stupid. I also believe that they should both serve their time in the worst place on earth.
How about Siberia?

By Sue

How can anyone blame Dr. Phil?? OMG...I say stupid! Just remember, acts like this raise prices on things we buy and put people out of jobs! Good for you Dr. Phil!

By Bfrjds1981

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Good for you Dr. Phil? Did you even read the story? He helped put them there. All the help he gave them was copies of his lame books. You do know that this man is not even a real doctor don't you? Please tell me you don't vote. PLEASE !!!!!

By laszloseverance

Dumbass Doug, a Ph.D in psychology is not a medical doctor, dumbass. Just like "Dr." Laura Spreadyerlegs isn't a real doctor, either, dumbass.

By getreal13

DR.PHIL = PUPPET/OPRAH = PUPPETMASTER

By Bobby Monto

+1 !!

By rwa325

Hey, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck ~~~ "Quack! Quack! Quack!" ;-) Is far as I'm concerned "the good doctor" never was any more credible or less exploitive than Maury Povich. He's strictly in the entertainment game, like "professional" wrestling.

By Pookie

So these two idiots go on national tv to 'cope' with their problem. What an f'in joke. They are so self consumed that they think they can get away with not be prosecuted? They deserve everything they got! I love when justice works.

By joevet

What a joke,what happen didn't Dr. Phil use his "people". Good job judge

By valerie lynn

Dr. Phill didn't do anything wrong except to point out the truth. How could they go on national television and expect that no-one was watching, as a viewer I would have called in myself if I were watching.In the long run we as tax payers pay for these kind of crimes, they got what they asked for solution to their crimes doing the time. LOL

By bets

Locally we had a young woman on Dr Phil who worked for the County Home with elderly clients. She got on and spilled the beans about how "well" she cared for her patients and literally bragged how badly she treated them. She calls off from work to do the show and then told the audience all about it! She eventually goes back to work where she gets terminated. After she got fired...she sues the County and actually wins!

By Lyn

It wasn't a matter of going into the store and stealing a 10.00 item ONCE. This was a 100,000 business and they bragged about it.
Jail time and a lot of it is appropriate.

By b1llyford

lol Dr. lol Phil is the biggest quack in the business. He uses people to enrich himself, and never actually helps them. His ratings are his religion.

The ONLY reason he has a show is because when Oprah was looking for someone to pander to women and tell them that nothing was their fault, he seized the opportunity. His entire show is based around pandering to women. Absolving them of any guilt or responsibility for their behaviors and actions. Meanwhile he villifies the men around them.

It is no more sound psychological advice given by him, than Cosmo's "5 secrets to a successful relationship." The irresponsible advice that has been dispensed by this snake oil salesman should have long since had his license revoked. I guess it is a good thing (for him, tragic for America) that he bought George W. Bush's friendship.

I think it is high time to end his show. It is ultimately NO different than the Jerry Springer show. Except of course Jerry doesn't even pretend to care about what happens to his guests. Dr. Phil is a tremendous hypocrite.

By coolenufff9

Do you WATCH the show? I do from time to time. He pretty much lets everyone have the sharp side of his tongue if they are wrong. Oh, and he has been renewed for what, four more years? Now, I, too, have had a poor opinion of Dr. Phil from time to time, but I have recently caught a couple of shows and he was nothing nice to some females who quite deserved it. And he's probably pretty much as much help as any psychologist or psychiatrist. If people are unwilling to help themselves and only want some attention, a magic bullet, or someone to tell them they are right no matter what they are doing, no one can help them. No one.

By Lisa

I agree with you totally.

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

You could'nt have said it better buddy. Like I said earlier,"DR.PHIL = PUPPET/OPRAH = PUPPETMASTER."

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