But what about the travel expenses? If she hadn't kept in contact he is more likely to be residivistical.

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Boyfriend in prison is not tax deductible
By Denny Walsh - [email protected]
Published 4:58 pm PDT Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Olivia K. McCormick was trying to make the best of a bad situation. Instead, things got worse.

For a time while her boyfriend was in prison, the Antelope woman claimed him as a tax deduction.

But federal authorities balked, saying the fact Michael Slaton was subtracted didn't make him a deduction.

McCormick, 47, pleaded guilty in March to filing a fraudulent income tax return for 2001, a misdemeanor, and admitted she listed Slaton, under his alias Michael Todd, as a dependent nephew, and did it again on returns for 2002 and 2003.

In the words of prosecutor Anne Pings, during that time "all of Mr. Slaton's shelter, clothing, food, medical care and other support were being provided by the United States Bureau of Prisons."

McCormick was sentenced Wednesday to five years' probation, including 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to make restitution of $6,552 to the Internal Revenue Service.

Through her attorney, Krista Hart, McCormick declined to comment after the hearing.