Sarah Jessica Parker Surrogate's Alleged Invader Found Somewhat Guilty
They fought the law and the law won some and lost some.
After about 12 hours of deliberations, a jury found Ohio lawman Barry Carpenter guilty of receiving stolen property, theft in office and tampering with evidence in connection with a break-in at the home of the surrogate who carried Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's twin daughters to term.
Carpenter, who's been suspended from his post as chief of the Martin Ferry Police Department, was acquitted of burglary and unauthorized used of property or services. He had been accused of breaking into Ross' place in May to rustle up some pregnancy info to sell to the tabloids.
Ross testified last week that she noticed that her belongings had been pawed through, plus ultrasound pictures and some tax documents were missing. A paparazzo ultimately informed her of the scheme, she said.
Carpenter admitted to being in Ross' home, but only because he saw a door open. While inside, he testified, he took photos of Ross' surrogacy file containing ultrasound pics and a plaster cast of a pregnant stomach and later showed them to paparazzi.
But, he said, he never conspired to profit from any of those goodies.
"Barry admits that he acted very stupidly, but denies that he acted criminally," his attorney, Dennis McNamara, said in his closing argument.
Bridgeport Police Chief Chad Dojack, who's accused of comasterminding the job, faces trial in January.
Carpenter is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 30. He's facing a maximum 10-year prison term if the judge goes whole hog on the three felony convictions. Until then, he remains free on bail but is being stricly monitored by a GPS system.
"The bottom line is that there is a victim in this case whose privacy was so gravely intruded upon," said Ohio Assistant Attorney General Emily Laube after the verdict was read. "If you can't trust the police, who can you trust?"
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