North Reading man admits trying to defraud Peabody insurance co.

SALEM – A North Reading businessman has admitted he filed a false accident claim with a Peabody insurance company to defraud them out of money.Joel Salvatore, 38, of 22 Cleek Court, North Reading, opted to change his plea to guilty Wednesday in Salem Superior Court to a charge of insurance fraud before Judge Howard J. Whitehead.Sentencing is delayed until Dec. 3 because Salvatore has some business concerns that have to be addressed.In the meantime, he remains free on his personal promise to return to court for his punishment.Whitehead said he would sentence Salvatore to four months in jail, but warned him if he fails to show for the sentencing he would face the maximum punishment of five years in state prison.On Nov. 3, 2006 Salvatore was driving a 2005 white Escalade Cadillac, owned by Home Improvements, Inc. when it was involved in a single car collision with a stationary power transformer box in North Reading.The incident was observed by workers from the utility company.Salvatore, president of Home Improvements, Inc., filed a false insurance claim with Kilgore Insurance Company in Peabody, an agent of Safety Insurance, claiming that another car struck his vehicle.Salvatore was also charged with leaving the scene of an accident in Middlesex, but the complaint was dismissed last April.