Arrests Made in Sarah Jessica Parker Surrogate Case
An Ohio police chief who was accused of stealing items from Sarah Jessica Parker's baby surrogate has been convicted of receiving stolen property, theft in office and tampering with evidence. People reports:
Martin's Ferry Police Chief Barry Carpenter, 40, along with another police chief, was accused of meeting with freelance photographers last May and offering items such as a poem, photos, legal documents about the surrogacy agreement, and pictures of ultrasounds. A photographer alerted the surrogacy agency, which reported the thefts to police.
*****
Carpenter, who was silent and held his head in his hands as the decisions were read, faces up to 10 years in prison at his sentencing Dec. 10. Until then, he must wear a home confinement device at his mother's home and will be tracked with a GPS device.
*****
Carpenter has publicly maintained he only went into the house to secure the premises after noticing a door ajar. He claims he did not take anything from the house and his discussions about meeting with photographers that were caught on tape was just him joking around.
"I stand by what I say. I didn't burglarize no home," Carpenter said in a videotaped interview with investigators, which was presented in court. "I don't want to give up a 17-year police career for something that was a joke."
Carpenter was acquitted of two counts of burglary and one count of unauthorized use of property or services. Bridgeport Police Chief Chad M. Dojack, 29, who is Carpenter's alleged accomplice, goes to trial in January. What a bizarre turn of events.
