DELHI _ The trial of a Hamden couple charged with allegedly attempting to collect on a fraudulent insurance claim ended with a plea agreement Friday.
Kenneth J. Pike, 46, and his wife, Michelle R. Pike, 47, were each charged with a D felony count of third-degree insurance fraud.
Michelle Pike pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of fourth-degree insurance fraud, an E felony. She agreed to pay a $2,500 fine and provide a DNA sample for the state database.
Kenneth Pike pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of fifth-degree insurance fraud, an A misdemeanor. He agreed to pay a $1,000 fine.
The sentences don't include jail time, but both Pikes will pay crime-victims' assistance fees.
The original charge of third-degree insurance fraud carries a prison sentence of
2 1/3-to-7 years, according to Delaware County District Attorney Richard Northrup.
A 12-member jury heard three days of testimony before the plea agreement was made.
According to court records, the fraud charges stem from an incident June 20, 2008, and involved property valued in excess of $3,000.
Bill Andrews, special prosecutor and assistant Delaware County district attorney, said there is a $25,656 sanction against the Pikes, but no money was paid by the insurance company.
Andrews offered the Pikes a plea deal in January in which they could plead guilty to attempted insurance fraud _ a misdemeanor charge _ and would face no fine, jail time or probation.
Andrews said if the Pikes acknowledged the charge, the insurance department would forgo any sanction.
The Pikes' attorney, Frederick Neroni, turned down the offer.
