We first reported on Kareem Spence's case in April of 2010, but with his sentencing date approaching, there are new details about his indictment.
When we last left Spence, the former New Jersey police officer had been arrested on March 30, 2010 for attempting to collect insurance money by setting his 2002 Cadillac Coupe DeVille on fire. When gasoline-soaked towels were found in the trunk of the car during an investigation, police officers went to cuff one of their own for arson and insurance fraud.
Spence faced two second-degree offenses, with charges of aggravated arson and insurance fraud, plus the third-degree crime of theft by deception. Bail was set at $25,000, and the former officer with six years on the force was looking at 25 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
During his hearing in November, Spence pled guilty to insurance fraud. The 35-year-old admitted to torching his car, for which he still owed $8,000, after it repeatedly overheated. As part of the plea agreement, the arson and theft charges were dismissed.
At this point in the case, Spence's sentencing is coming up on February 4, 2011. Despite the diminished charges, he'll still receive from three to five years in state prison, where he'll be joining the criminals he used to work to put behind bars.
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