Carpenter appealing conviction

ST. CLAIRSVILLE - A former Martins Ferry police chief has filed an appeal in a case that sent him to prison for nearly three years and brought national media attention to the area.

Barry Carpenter was found guilty of several charges stemming from a scandal that involved the surrogate mother for actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. He was sentenced to two years and eight months behind bars for receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence and theft in office. The jury did not find the former police chief guilty of breaking and entering charges.

The appeal was filed through Carpenter's court appointed attorney Michelle Miller. He is serving his sentence at the London Correctional Institute.

Throughout the trial Special Prosecutor T. Shawn Hervey maintained that Carpenter had entered the Martins Ferry home of the surrogate to obtain information to be sold to tabloid photographers. Carpenter admitted to entering her home but said it was merely to complete a welfare check after he noticed a door to the residence was ajar.

The verdict in the case was handed down in November. Carpenter was sentenced on Dec. 29.

Two other local men were also indicted in the matter. The case against Bridgeport resident Bruce Callarik was dismissed while Chad Dojack, the former police chief of Bridgeport, is currently on house arrest after he entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution.

Dojack was originally indicted on two felony counts of receiving stolen property. He later entered a no contest plea to a misdemeanor count of dereliction of duty after a jury failed to find Carpenter guilty of the burglary charges. Judge John M. Solovan II sentenced Dojack to either 30 days in the Belmont County Jail or 50 days of house arrest. He selected the home confinement and resigned his post with the village of Bridgeport. In addition to the house arrest, he must also complete 100 of community service and serve three years' probation.

Sedgmer may be reached at ksedgmer@timesleaderonline.com

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Fizdogg
02-24-10 3:30 PM »Report Abuse	An appeal never looks good for the judicial system.

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