A person accused of lengthy hiding a stolen pair of sequined ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Ounces” plans to plead in charge, his lawyer showed Friday.
The slippers have been stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in her homeland of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Their whereabouts remained a thriller for just about 13 years till the FBI recovered them in Minneapolis in 2018.
They fetched a report worth for film memorabilia once they have been auctioned off for $32.5 million last month, consistent with Heritage Auctions, which carried out the sale. The patron nonetheless has no longer been published.
Jerry Hal Saliterman, now 77, of Crystal, Minnesota, was charged last March with theft of a major artwork and witness tampering.
He is anticipated to plead no longer in charge when he is arraigned Monday prior to a federal Justice of the Peace pass judgement on, a formality as a result of Justice of the Peace judges can not settle for in charge pleas in criminal instances in Minnesota. However the district pass judgement on overseeing the case on Friday scheduled a metamorphosis of plea listening to for Jan. 10.
Saliterman’s lawyer, John C. Verge of collapse, showed to The Related Press that his shopper will trade his plea then to in charge, however he declined to offer information about any possible plea settlement. The U.S. Legal professional’s Place of job for North Dakota, which is prosecuting the case, declined to remark.
The person who stole the slippers, Terry Jon Martin, now 77, pleaded in charge in 2023 to robbery of a significant paintings, admitting to what his lawyer mentioned was once an try to pull off “one remaining ranking” after turning from a lifetime of crime. The 76-year-old Grand Rapids guy was once sentenced to time served, one year of supervised release and $23,000 in restitution to the museum.
The indictment towards Saliterman says that from August 2005 to July 2018, he “gained, hid, and disposed of an object of cultural heritage.” Saliterman, consistent with the indictment, knew they have been stolen, and that he threatened to free up a intercourse tape of a lady and “take her down with him” if she did stay her mouth close in regards to the slippers.
Saliterman could also be ill. He was once in a wheelchair and on supplemental oxygen remaining March throughout his first courtroom look.
Government have no longer mentioned how Martin and Saliterman may had been hooked up. Martin, who lives close to Grand Rapids, mentioned at his plea listening to in October 2023 that he was hoping to promote what he idea have been actual rubies from the footwear. However an individual who offers in stolen items, referred to as a fence, knowledgeable him the rubies were not actual, he mentioned. Martin mentioned he then removed the slippers, however declined to mention how he did so.
Garland’s personality, Dorothy, wore a number of pairs whilst filming the vintage 1939 musical, however best 4 pairs are identified to stay. Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw had loaned his pair to the museum prior to Martin stole them. Shaw ultimately were given them again, and had them auctioned remaining month.
Garland was once born Frances Gumm in 1922. She lived in Grand Rapids, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Minneapolis, till she was once 4 years outdated. She died in 1969. The Judy Garland Museum says it has the sector’s biggest selection of Garland and “Wizard of Ounces” memorabilia.
Observe: The above video first aired on March 17, 2024
