Police chief guilty of handling SJP docs

Nov 24, 2009, 12:03 GMT

New fragrance - Sarah Jessica Parker -A US police chief has been found guilty of handling stolen items related to the pregnancy of Sarah Jessica Parker\'s surrogate twins.. © Janet Mayer / PR Photos

A US police chief has been found guilty of handling stolen items related to the pregnancy of Sarah Jessica Parker's surrogate twins.

Ohio police chief Barry Carpenter, 40, and another police chief, were accused of meeting with freelance photographers and offering them items concerning surrogate mother Michelle Ross' pregnancy including poems, photos, legal documents about the surrogacy agreement, and pictures of ultrasounds.

Carpenter was eventually found guilty of three of the six counts against him, of receiving stolen property, theft in office and tampering with evidence. He was found not guilty of burglary and unauthorised use of property or services.

The officer will be sentenced on December 10, and faces up to 10 years in prison for his abuse of power and crimes. In the meantime he will be made to stay at his mother's home and wear an electronic tag to monitor his movements.

In a videotaped interview presented to the court Carpenter said: "I stand by what I say. I didn't burglarise no home. I don't want to give up a 17-year police career for something that was a joke."

Carpenter claims he only went into the house to secure the premises after noticing a door was ajar and did not take anything from the house.

Michelle Ross, 26, gave birth to the twin girls for Jessica and husband Matthew Broderick last June. She also testified in the trial against Carpenter.

The police chief's alleged accomplice, Chief Chad M. Dojack, 29, will stand trial in January.