North Reading man pleads not guilty to insurance fraud

SALEM – A North Reading man facing insurance fraud for allegedly filing a false accident claim with a Peabody insurance company remains free on his own personal promise to return to court, after pleading not guilty.Joel Salvatore, 37, of 22 Cleek Court, appeared Thursday in Salem Superior Court entering his not guilty plea at his arraignment to a charge of filing a false insurance claim.The charge concerns a fake claim filed with an agent of Safety Insurance in Peabody on Nov. 3, 2006 involving damage to a leased 2005 Cadillac he apparently was driving.After insurance authorities conducted an investigation, it was determined the vehicle had no damage and the claim was false.A conviction on the charge carries up to five years in state prison.His next scheduled court date is Dec. 10 for a pretrial conference.The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James P. Gubitose, who has prosecuted a number of insurance fraud cases recently.