Man Charged for Pouring Water into Wife's Gas Tank

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Complaint alleges Cambridge man went to his wife's workplace in Brookfield to pour water in the tank of a 1999 BMW.
By Joe Petrie | The Brookfield Patch


A Cambridge man is facing a felony for allegedly pouring water into the gas tank of his wife's BMW while she was at work in Brookfield.

Dino C. Spinelli, 36, was charged in Waukesha County Circuit court Tuesday with one count of felony criminal damage to property for allegedly filling the gas tank of his wife’s car with water in order to get revenge on her for wanting a separation. If convicted, he faces up to 3 ½ years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, in July 2010 Spinelli went to his wife’s work in the 17900 block of Blue Mound Road where he filled the tank up with water. After the victim left work, the car ran rough and eventually died down the road.

By putting water in the tank, the complaint states $12,000 worth of damage took place to the car, which is valued at $6,000.

The complaint alleges Spinelli admitted to the crime and apologized, saying it was a stupid thing to do. He also admitted to the incident to his probation agent in Arizona.

[Arkady Renko]

I hate divorce cases, people go totally off the deep end and come up with absurd shit like that. I can't imagine how the water could have done any permanent damage to the engine. Syphon what's left from the tank, clean out the engine, should be good to go again. Just as dumb: how can you do 12.000 $ worth of damage to a car worth 6000 in the first place? The damn thing was 12 years old, so even if the engine was FUBAR, by rights the owner couldn't reasonably ask for a brand new engine but rather a used one in good condition at the most (not least because the exact same engine isn't even made anymore).

Why do these people waste the courts' precious time and resources when all they want is a little petty revenge on their ex?

[Godfather]

"By putting water in the tank, the complaint states $12,000 worth of damage took place to the car, which is valued at $6,000."

That's called fraud, and her claim should be tossed out for it...

[Muddy]

The damn thing was 12 years old, so even if the engine was FUBAR, by rights the owner couldn't reasonably ask for a brand new engine but rather a used one in good condition at the most (not least because the exact same engine isn't even made anymore).


Dude, It doesnt matter if it was 100 years old... The guy maliciously destroyed her engine... wtf man? :lol:

[pepo]

just leave a poop in the backseet on a hot day... cheeper and smell lasts longer then the marriage!!!

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Dude, It doesnt matter if it was 100 years old... The guy maliciously destroyed her engine... wtf man? :lol:

Yeah, but she shouldn't be trying to claim $12K in damage to a car worth only $6K :lol:

[Muddy]

What if a replacement motor is 12k though? She shouldnt have to take a "total" because this asshole victimized her... He should have to pay to make the car like it was before he destroyed it.. Regardless of cost..

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Oh I agree, he should pay to get it fixed, but used/rebuilt engines don't cost $12K, even in a BMW

http://www.1999engine.com/1999-bmw-740i-engine.html

[AntZ]

My brother, for a while, collected convertible Maserati's. Both he and his crazy wife had one, and he had another half dozen in various states of restoration. He once bought a rare one with a perfect rear end and smashed front. He was planning on parting it out and he could triple the profits because of the rare parts are hard to find. When him and his wife were fighting and they were going to split up, he moved out of his house. His wife, knowing the value, went in the garage and dented every square inch with a hammer and smashed the lights and trim pieces. He had anticipated her doing something stupid, so he had insured the car as a running car getting repaired from the front end accident. He never told her what he did, so he filed a claim and they cut him a check. She found out and went crazy, she went to court and demanded HALF the money as community property. He explained that she was the one that did the damage! She denied it and insisted that my brother runs insurance scams for a living. :roll:

[Hal-9000]

the question remains?

does running water through a combustion engine ruin it?

I've had bad gas from the pump before with condensation, ice, water, whatever in it and it only made my car run rough for about 3 hours.

[lost in melb.]

My brother, for a while, collected convertible Maserati's. Both he and his crazy wife had one, and he had another half dozen in various states of restoration. He once bought a rare one with a perfect rear end and smashed front. He was planning on parting it out and he could triple the profits because of the rare parts are hard to find. When him and his wife were fighting and they were going to split up, he moved out of his house. His wife, knowing the value, went in the garage and dented every square inch with a hammer and smashed the lights and trim pieces. He had anticipated her doing something stupid, so he had insured the car as a running car getting repaired from the front end accident. He never told her what he did, so he filed a claim and they cut him a check. She found out and went crazy, she went to court and demanded HALF the money as community property. He explained that she was the one that did the damage! She denied it and insisted that my brother runs insurance scams for a living. :roll:

Good story.

Though you've got to question the judgement of your brother for marrying a nutter :)

[deebakes]

so... water is bad for cars? :-k

[Griffin]

so... water is bad for cars? :-k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKM4pb9Oxrg

[deebakes]

That's what I thought :-k ...