Local artist charged with fraud, theft
Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007
A Siloam Springs artist and his wife were arrested July 18 on fraud and theft charges after they allegedly failed to show up for an art workshop in Ireland, and one student, who was charged for the workshop, was stranded there.
Timothy C. Tyler, 48, and his wife, Shandine, 39, of 703 W. Highland Court, planned to host an art workshop in Belfast, Ireland, and allegedly charged students who signed up for the workshop, but the Tylers didn’t show up, said Brenda Balk, public information officer of Siloam Springs Police Department.
Mary O’Connell of Raleigh, N. C., was one student whose credit card was charged more than $ 5, 000 in connection with the theft.
Arry Murphy-Frank, the student who was stranded in Ireland, was reportedly hit with a $ 2, 600 bill on her credit card for airline tickets. The bill was later removed, and the cost of the workshop, $ 3, 000, was added. O’Connell was charged $ 2, 500 for the workshop but didn’t receive a refund.
The workshop was supposed to be held at Limepark Arts and Cottages in Belfast, but because the Tylers had a balance owed from the previous year, the owner did not book the workshop, Balk said.
“ The students went to Limepark on their own and paid for lodging directly, ” Balk said.
The cost of the workshop was supposed to include lodging, meals, transportation to and from Belfast International Airport, artist instruction, supplies and day trips to local castles, Balk said. The Tylers’ next workshop is in Aspen, Colo., in August, according to www. timothyctyler. com.
A Tuscany, Italy, workshop is set for May 2008.
The Tylers are charged with fraudulent use of a credit card and theft of property.
Timothy Tyler was released on $ 2, 500 bond.
Arraignment is set for Aug. 27 in Benton County Circuit Court.
In May, Timothy Tyler pleaded innocent to a charge of fraudulent use of a debit or credit card.
A hearing was set for June 18. The case is still pending.
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