The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office has charged Michael Lynn Cooper (Age 55 of Ontario) with insurance fraud and other crimes related to street racing in Ontario.
CASE SYNOPSIS
In April of 2020, Michael Lynn Cooper made an insurance claim for damage to his vehicle. The insurance company notified the California Department of Insurance, who with the Ontario Police Department, completed an investigation into potential insurance fraud.
After reviewing this case, our office has filed charges against Mr. Cooper for the following violations of the California Vehicle Code and California Penal Code:
Vehicle Code Section 23109(e)(2) – Engaging In A Motor Vehicle Speed Contest Causing Bodily Injury (Misdemeanor)
(A) A person shall not engage in a motor vehicle speed contest on a highway. As used in this section, a motor vehicle speed contest includes a motor vehicle race against another vehicle, a clock, or other timing device. For purposes of this section, an event in which the time to cover a prescribed route of more than 20 miles is measured, but where the vehicle does not exceed the speed limits, is not a speed contest.
(e)(2) If a person is convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) and that violation proximately causes bodily injury to a person other than the driver, the person convicted shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
Vehicle Code Section 22348(b) – Diving Over 100 MPH On A Highway (Infraction)
(a) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 22351, a person shall not drive a vehicle upon a highway with a speed limit established pursuant to Section 22349 or 22356 at a speed greater than that speed limit.
(b) A person who drives a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than 100 miles per hour is guilty of an infraction punishable, as follows:
(1) Upon a first conviction of a violation of this subdivision, by a fine of not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500). The court may also suspend the privilege of the person to operate a motor vehicle for a period not to exceed 30 days pursuant to Section 13200.5.
(2) Upon a conviction under this subdivision of an offense that occurred within three years of a prior offense resulting in a conviction of an offense under this subdivision, by a fine of not to exceed seven hundred fifty dollars ($750). The person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle shall be suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13355.
(3) Upon a conviction under this subdivision of an offense that occurred within five years of two or more prior offenses resulting in convictions of offenses under this subdivision, by a fine of not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). The person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle shall be suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 13355.
Vehicle Code Section 31 – False Information To A Police Officer (Misdemeanor)
No person shall give, either orally or in writing, information to a peace officer while in the performance of his duties under the provisions of this code when such person knows that the information is false.
Penal Code Section 550(b)(3) – Concealment/Failure To Disclose Facts Regarding Insurance Benefits (Felony)
It is unlawful to do, or to knowingly assist or conspire with any person to do, any of the following:
Conceal, or knowingly fail to disclose the occurrence of, an event that affects any person’s initial or continued right or entitlement to any insurance benefit or payment, or the amount of any benefit or payment to which the person is entitled.
Penal Code Section 487(a) – Grand Theft (Felony)
Grand theft is theft committed in any of the following cases:
(a) When the money, labor, or real or personal property taken is of a value exceeding nine hundred fifty dollars ($950), except as provided in subdivision (b).
Penal Code Section 550(b)(1) – Insurance Fraud (Felony)
It is unlawful to do, or to knowingly assist or conspire with any person to do, any of the following:
(1) Present or cause to be presented any written or oral statement as part of, or in support of or opposition to, a claim for payment or other benefit pursuant to an insurance policy, knowing that the statement contains any false or misleading information concerning any material fact.
CASE INFORMATION
DA Case Number: 2020-00-0042523
Court Case Number: FWV20003686
View Superior Court Case Information
View Charging Document
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