A second man has been charged in reference to the 2005 theft of a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz,” in accordance with the authorities, who mentioned that he had threatened to a launch a intercourse tape of a girl if she instructed the authorities concerning the theft.
The person, Jerry Hal Saliterman, 76, of Hennepin County, Minn., was charged on Friday with one rely of theft of main paintings and one rely of witness tampering, in accordance with courtroom data that have been launched on Sunday. He didn’t enter a plea when he appeared within the U.S. District Courtroom in St. Paul on Friday.
The famed red-sequined pumps, considered one of a number of pairs that Garland wore in filming “The Wizard of Oz,” have been stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minn., in 2005. The whereabouts of the slippers was a thriller for years till 2018, when the F.B.I. announced that they had been recovered.
In keeping with the indictment, between August 2005 and July 2018, Mr. Saliterman “received, concealed, and disposed of an object of cultural heritage,” referring to the ruby slippers, which the indictment says he knew have been stolen. Final yr, Mr. Saliterman tried to intimidate an unidentified lady by threatening to disclose a intercourse tape of her to her household if “she did not keep her mouth shut” and spoke with the F.B.I. concerning the theft, the indictment mentioned.
Mr. Saliterman was launched on Friday on his personal recognizance, in accordance with courtroom paperwork. He was photographed leaving the courthouse in a wheelchair, carrying a transportable respiration machine. His subsequent courtroom look had not been scheduled as of Monday afternoon.
It was unclear whether or not some other arrests in reference to the theft have been anticipated.
John Brink, a lawyer for Mr. Saliterman, mentioned on Monday that Mr. Saliterman deliberate to plead not responsible when he’s arraigned.
“He’s done nothing wrong,” Mr. Brink mentioned.
Prosecutors declined to remark concerning the case whereas it’s pending.
The primary man charged within the case, Terry Martin, 76, of Minnesota, pleaded responsible in October 2023 to at least one rely of theft of main paintings. He was spared time in jail and was as a substitute sentenced in January to at least one yr of supervised launch. Mr. Martin was additionally ordered to pay $23,500 in restitution to the Judy Garland Museum.
Federal prosecutors and Mr. Martin’s attorneys had agreed that he mustn’t face time in jail as a result of he had persistent obstructive pulmonary illness, requires oxygen and is in hospice care. Prosecutors mentioned in January that Mr. Martin was not anticipated to dwell past the following six months.
Dane DeKrey, a lawyer for Mr. Martin, wrote in courtroom paperwork that Mr. Martin had “no idea” that the ruby slippers have been such well-known cultural objects in American movie and that he believed the footwear had been made with “real rubies” that he could peel off and sell on the black market. Mr. Martin said that his plan had been foiled when he learned the gems were made of glass.
Mr. Martin had previous experience with stolen jewels, and he had spent time in prison for burglary, according to Mr. DeKrey. In 2005, Mr. Martin had been out of prison for 10 years when he was contacted by an “old mob associate” about “a job,” Mr. DeKrey wrote in courtroom paperwork.
It was unclear whether the authorities were contending that Mr. Saliterman had solicited Mr. Martin to steal the ruby slippers. Public records show that Mr. Saliterman has a lengthy criminal history, with previous charges of fraud, theft and shoplifting.
Mr. Saliterman was sentenced to 10 years in prison in April 1988 after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the federal government and credit card fraud, The Star Tribune in Minneapolis reported at the time. Mr. Saliterman was one of two people who had been a part of “a sophisticated fencing ring that traded in expensive furs, artworks and sports cars,” the newspaper reported.
