Mom gets jail time for using children in volleyball scheme

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November 13, 2008

By Chris Conrad

Mail Tribune

A Medford woman received jail time and was ordered to pay restitution for a fraudulent scheme in which she and her husband sent their children door to door seeking funds for a volleyball camp. Her husband escaped jail time.

Carly and Laramie Torres pleaded guilty after one day of their trial during which they heard testimony from several of their victims, Jackson County Deputy District Attorney Karen Loomis said.

Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Ray White sentenced Carly Torres, 35, to 90 days in jail and ordered her to pay a little more than $3,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to computer crime and four counts of second-degree theft. In addition, she was given two years supervised probation and 160 hours of community service.

Her husband, Laramie Torres, 33, received two years' probation and 160 hours of community service after pleading guilty to second-degree theft and third-degree theft.

The couple will jointly pay off the restitution, Loomis said.

The pair and their children canvassed neighborhoods in Medford, Ashland and Eagle Point from late 2006 through 2007. They requested donations to help fund Carly Torres' oldest daughter's trip to a volleyball camp in trade for fraudulent car-wash tickets.

They had no intention of sending the girl to camp, Loomis said. Instead, the couple spent the money on weekend trips to the movies, monster truck rallies and trips to the mall.

The case was unusual in that Loomis subpoenaed 166 witnesses to speak against the couple.

"The common theme among the victims was a violation of the public trust," Loomis said.

The victims were given the opportunity to fill out impact statements saying how the case affected their lives. They also suggested punishment.

"This has left me leery about trusting kids that are trying to fund-raise for their cause," wrote Anne Adderson. "I normally am a big supporter of children in this community — this is why I am a victim."

Several of the victims argued the pair should serve the community in lieu of jail. Cleaning girls' locker rooms at schools, mopping gym floors, cleaning buses and public apologies were among the many suggestions from the witnesses.

Sue Galpin was concerned about the impact criminal behavior would have on the Torres children.

"It saddened me to think a mother would use her child to extort money from people," Galpin wrote.

Carly Torres was taking part in adult drug court on a charge of tampering with drug records while committing the thefts, Loomis said.

"She already has quite a criminal history," Loomis said. "And I believe Laramie is just as guilty as she was in this case."

So far, Loomis has found 499 victims, though she believes there are many more.

Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 776-4471; or e-mail cconrad@mailtribune.com.

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