Chief convicted on three counts

ST. CLAIRSVILLE - A Belmont County jury on Monday convicted Martins Ferry Police Chief Barry Carpenter of three charges for his role in an alleged break-in at the home of Michelle Ross, the surrogate who carried twin girls for Hollywood couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.

Following more than a dozen hours of deliberation that began Friday and ended shortly before 5 p.m. Monday, jurors convicted Carpenter of theft in office and receiving stolen property, both felonies. They also found him guilty of tampering with evidence.

Carpenter was found innocent of two counts of burglary and one count of unauthorized use of property or services. He faces 10 years in prison when he is sentenced before Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Solovan on Dec. 30.

Carpenter will remain under house arrest until his sentencing hearing and will be monitored through a GPS system. He was ordered to report to the county's probation department to obtain the ankle bracelet and other required equipment. Solovan also ordered that all firearms be removed from his possession.

The indictment against Carpenter alleged he entered the Ross home in May and took various items pertaining to the pregnancy including photos that he later deleted from his cell phone. He also reportedly attempted to sell those photos and items to a tabloid photographer in an attempt to obtain personal financial gain.

Carpenter had testified that he went into the home to check it out because he saw a door open. He said he took photos of a surrogacy file that contained two ultrasound pictures and of a plaster cast of a pregnant stomach but did not take anything from the home.

He said he showed the photo of the cast to paparazzi and to several other people and said he never discussed selling items from the home to the photographers.

Carpenter's trial began last Monday and continued through the week.

As the jury's verdict on the first three counts was read, sighs of relief were heard from Carpenter's family and friends. However, guilty verdicts on the next three charges left his supporters in shocked silence. Carpenter, sitting at the defense table next to attorney Dennis McNamara, dropped his head into his hands.

"The bottom line is that there is a victim in this case whose privacy was so gravely intruded upon," Ohio Assistant Attorney General Emily Laube said. "If you can't trust the police, who can you trust?"

McNamara spoke with reporters following the verdict, confirming that Carpenter will never be able to work as a police officer again. "He can't hold a public office. However, the judge has the authority to not impose a prison sentence. The verdict can be appealed."

He said Carpenter regrets his decision to take photos while in the home of the surrogate but still contends he didn't take anything.

"He has been a good cop for 17 years," McNamara noted. "He has been very stoic. He has been strong. He remained hopeful to the end."

Carpenter's mother, with whom he must live while under house arrest, said she was upset with the verdict.

"He is a good kid," she said. "We're appealing."

Special Prosecutor T. Shawn Hervey was pleased with the verdict, although disappointed with the not guilty findings in the burglary charges.

"The guilty charges send a message to rouge cops across America that if you perpetuate a crime like this you will be punished," he said.

Laube said she was happy to see "justice prevail" even when it involved the wrongdoings of a police chief.