Idaho man who hid mom’s death while collecting her pension, Social Security gets 7 years
An Eagle man who concealed his mother’s death for more than a year and then illegally took her pension payments was sentenced Thursday to seven years in prison, according to a news release from the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office.
William Rhoton, 66, has no possibility of parole, and also must pay a $15,000 fine and $47,735 in restitution, District Judge Jason Scott ordered.
“I extend my condolences to the victim’s family,” said Ada County Prosecutor Jan M. Bennetts in the release. She also thanked her office’s investigative unit and Ada County Sheriff’s Office detectives.
Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 14 years for Rhoton, who was arrested and charged in June 2019 with several felonies, including failing to notify authorities of a death, concealing or altering evidence, and grand theft by deception and forgery. The investigation began after family members contacted the Sheriff’s Office because they had not heard from Barbara Rhoton, whose body was later discovered by authorities.
William Rhoton pleaded guilty Feb. 19 to two charges, felony concealment or alteration of evidence and grand theft by deception. He admitted to concealing his mother’s death since May 2018 and then collecting her retirement money for over a year. The restitution was included in his plea deal.
