Dr. Phil is a 'terrible, terrible man,' San Diego judge says at sentencing of shoplifters

The San Diego judge in the case of two shoplifters who confessed to Dr. Phil had some unkind words for the TV personality this week when the pair were sentenced.

Judge Irma Gonzalez on Monday sentenced Matthew Eaton  to 27 months in jail and his wife, Laura Eaton, to 12 months. Both had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in stolen goods across state lines.

Gonzalez criticized Dr. Phil, saying he did not give the couple enough help and counseling when they agreed to appear on his show. She called him "a terrible, terrible man," adding, "what a charlatan this man is."

On the television show, the couple, living in San Marcos in northern San Diego County, said they had earned up to $100,000 a year by selling stolen goods on the Internet. They traveled to several states, often with their children as decoys, to shoplift at toy stores and other business, according to court documents.

When investigators raided the couple's home, 500 boxes of stolen goods were seized.

-- Shelby Grad and Tony Perry

Photo: Matthew Eaton, 34, and his wife, Laura, 27, appear on "Dr. Phil." Credit: DrPhil.com

Comments

[whamo]

Dr. Phil isn't the one going to jail. He's not the shoplifter.

[DANA]

These are the idiots that confessed to a crime on national tv

[Colojo]

So these guys are criminals and Dr. Phil is the bad guy? What an incredibly stupid judge.

[Martin Hetland]

Why is it ok to run somewhat deceptive police sting operations to catch offenders but when Dr Phil uses the lure of TV face-time in a perfectly open showcasing of a social problem he is somehow branded as more evil than the people who break laws? It sounds like a case of jealousy, only judges can judge.

[Dan Romo]

I have never thought of Dr Phil as such a great doctor.where did he come from just because he was on the show with this other person everyone thinks she walks on water opha....all of a sudden he has his own show on TV and is great this is all due to the media who pumps people like this into startdom and that they are great when they are not..They are just regular people like you and I the diffence is that the media pumped them up to make people think they are great...Remember..the bible says We shall not worship false idols...

[Terry]

yeah it's Dr. Phil's fault these two are wastes of space. Sure.

[drbenk]

The Judge sounds like she's the charlatan. What kind of Judge is she? What counseling should be given to two people flaunting their crimes in front on millions of people on TV? Justice was served and the Judge is upset about it. Amazing. She's a terrible, terrible Judge.

[doug schultz]

Well, we finally are getting Oprah off our TV screens and maybe, hopefully, they will pull the plug on this trashy show that exploits human suffering. The judge is right- Dr Phil is a terrible person. A man who exploits those most in need( like Oprah) for the almighty buck.

[Stephanie Breaton]

Dr Phil my be a doctor of Phycology but he does not know everything. Like for example he said, "If you are a woman and have a 35 inch waist you are fat. I have a 35 inch waist and I'm not fat. My Dr says Im a little over wieght but not enough to effect my health.