[Jason]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RAVENNA, Ohio -- A man facing a big bill because he had blown the engine in his 1997 BMW decided to bury his car instead and collect $20,000 from his insurance company by claiming it was stolen.

Matthew Mueller rented a backhoe in October 2002 and buried the car on property owned by his father in rural northeast Ohio.

Police received tips last year and excavated the vehicle.

Mueller, 35, of Akron, was sentenced to a year in prison for insurance fraud, tampering with evidence, falsification and receiving stolen property.

He apologized in Portage County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday and paid restitution to Progressive Insurance along with $15,500 to state officials for their costs digging up the vehicle.

"It was stupidity and completely out of character," he said. "I broke the law and I tried to conceal it."

[deutschmann59]

Ha ha ha ha!!! That awesome!

I don't condone insurance fraud, of course, but he definitely deserves credit for trying something so bold and ridiculous!

Makes me wonder how many people do stuff like this all the time and get away with it. No wonder my premiums are so high!!!

[Curt3s]

I just heard this on CNNHN. Really weird.

[canucklion]

that's insane, going through all that trouble

[Nikki]

haha what a psycho

[BMW0]

E for Effort