Accused Parker officer on trial

The trial of a police chief accused of scheming to sell items from the home of the surrogate mother for Sarah Jessica Parker’s twins has begun in Ohio.

Michelle Ross gave birth to Parker and husband Matthew Boderick’s twin girls in June.

Barry Carpenter is alleged to have broken into her house and taken personal items to sell to the press.

Mr Carpenter, who has been suspended, admits entering the house, but did not steal anything, his lawyer said.

He also acknowledged that Mr Carpenter had joked with paparazzi about helping them snoop on Ms Ross, the jury in Belmont County court heard.

Mr Carpenter faces several charges including burglary and receiving stolen property.

‘Complete faith’

Assistant attorney general Emily Lauvey told jurors that Mr Carpenter, of Martins Ferry, easterm Ohio, used his position as chief to exploit someone else’s most personal and intimate privacy.

Special prosecutor T Shawn Hervey said that Mr Carpenter entered Ms Ross’s home in May, removed items that identified her as the surrogate mother, and attempted to sell them to photographers.

Mr Carpenter is also accused of using his office to commit the crimes, destroying evidence and illegally using a law enforcement computer system, Mr Hervey said.

Another officer, Police Chief Chad Dojack from Bridgeport, faces counts of complicity to burglary and complicity to receiving stolen property. His trial is due to start in January.

After the officers were first charged, a publicist for Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband Matthew Broderick said the couple had "complete faith in the legal system".

Ms Ross was not home at the time of the alleged burglary in May.

If convicted Mr Carpenter could face 21 years in prison, while Mr Dojack, whose trial is scheduled for January, could be jailed for 14 years.

source : news.bbc.co.uk

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Submited at Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 5:00 am on celeb by alliana
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