Ted Lilly
Former professional baseball pitcher Ted Lilly has agreed to a plea deal with San Luis Obispo County prosecutors that will keep him out of jail despite admitting to insurance fraud.
Lilly, a 39-year-old Edna Valley resident, pleaded guilty to a single count of misdemeanor insurance fraud, according to a district attorney’s office press release. He must now serve two years probation, pay a $2,500 and complete 250 hours of community service.
Prosecutors initially charged him with three felony counts, for which he could have served up to five years in state prison if convicted. The district attorney’s office accused Lilly of falsifying an insurance claim following a March 2014 accident in which he caused about $4,600 in damage to his RV.
Lilly allegedly purchased insurance for the approximately $200,000 RV after damaging it. He filed the claim several days later.
Progressive Insurance denied Lilly’s claim and red-flagged it as part of a larger operation. Authorities arrested about 200 other statewide as part of the operation, and arrestees included Silicon Valley executives and insurance agents, according to a California Department of Insurance spokesperson.
Lilly pleaded not guilty to the initial felony insurance fraud charges. He changed his plea Thursday in San Luis Obispo Superior Court, and his attorney read a brief written statement that Lilly wrote.
The former Major League Baseball pitcher acknowledged that he made a terrible error in judgment, according to the district attorney’s office.
Lilly retired from professional baseball in 2013 after a 15-year career that included two All-Star games and four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He earned nearly $100 million in base salary playing baseball.
