Police Chief Set to Face The Jury
By GABE WELLS Staff WriterSuspended Martins Ferry Police Chief Barry Carpenter said in June he'd committed no crime in an alleged celebrity scandal that involved what may be Hollywood's most famous couple.
The jury that will make that determination will be selected Monday in Belmont County Common Pleas Court before Judge John M. Solovan, as Carpenter's trial begins.
Carpenter, Bridgeport Police Chief Chad Dojack and Bridgeport resident Bruce Callarik allegedly conspired in May to steal and then sell items that identified Martins Ferry woman Michelle Ross as the surrogate mother for the children of Hollywood stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.
Harrison County Prosecutor T. Shawn Hervey will handle the case. He was appointed because Belmont County Prosecutor Chris Berhalter cited a conflict of interest. Berhalter has worked with both Carpenter and Dojack on prior cases.
Carpenter, 32, is accused of two counts of burglary, one count of receiving stolen property, theft in office, tampering with evidence and unauthorized use of property or services. He faces more than 20 years in prison if convicted. He pleaded innocent to all the charges against him.
Dojack, 30, faces two counts of complicity to burglary and one count of complicity to receive stolen property. Dojack faces a prison term of 9 1/2 years. His trial is set for Jan. 12.
The charge of receiving stolen property against Bruce Callarik has been dropped. Although it won't be as a defendant, Callarik still is likely to face a jury.
"It better serves us to call him as a witness than to try him as a defendant," Hervey recently said.
Carpenter confirmed June 16 that he was under investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Identification and investigation. At that time, he said he did not know the specifics of the investigation. Carpenter was arrested along with Dojack and Callarik in July. They were held for a short time in the Belmont County Jail.
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seeingred
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11-16-09 8:40 AM
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Is anyone really surprised they would do something like this? I know I'm not. What I am surprised is that they got busted, now we will see if they will get punished.
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PCGS70
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11-16-09 12:54 AM
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Hang 'em High. Set an example for future dirty cops. The police and politicians are suppose to be above reproach. Darn CROOKS! Come to my house and face the music you cowards.
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EllisWyatt
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11-15-09 10:24 PM
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Corrupt local police? Say it ain't so!
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