CA - Child *advertiser censored* charges against John Mark Karr dismissed

John Mark Karr's Bail Set At $200,000

Sep. 19 - The one-time suspect in the JonBenet Ramsey case was in a Sonoma County court today for a bail hearing in his child *advertiser censored* case.

The judge called Karr a flight risk and set his bail at $200,000.

Five misdemeanor counts of possessing child *advertiser censored* have been pending against Karr in Sonoma County since authorities arrested him in April of 2001.

After the arrest, police seized his computer and said that the hard drive contained five sexually oriented images of children.

Karr pleaded not guilty to all counts then, and was jailed for six months. But he fled the country before he could be tried.

A lack of DNA evidence connection Karr to the 1996 Ramsey killing caused investigators in Colorado to drop their case against him.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=local&id=4577817

If I were one of Karr's relatives, I would be very worried that he might ask to live with me when he gets out. The thought of it is enough to make you want to move and change your name, never to be found again. BTW, was John Karr's older brother Michael ever interviewed?? They interviewed his father, and his younger brother.

KARR'S BAIL SET AT $200,000, PLEA OFFER MADE
09/19/06 1:40 PDT
SANTA ROSA (BCN)

A Sonoma County Superior Court judge refused to release John Mark Karr on his own recognizance this morning and set his bail at $200,000.

Judge Cerena Wong said Karr, 41, is at risk of fleeing before his trial on Oct. 2 on five misdemeanor charges of possessing images of child *advertiser censored* on his computer in 2001. Karr failed to appear for his trial on the charges in Sonoma County in 2001.

Wong said the charges were "very serious'' and she said Karr's $200,000 bail was "reasonable.''

The judge also said Karr has no local ties to the community despite Karr's attorney's assertion that Karr's brother is traveling to Sonoma County to help him find housing.

Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse then disclosed an offer by the prosecution that means no jail time for Karr, the former substitute teacher in Sonoma and Napa counties and San Francisco.

Under the offer, Karr would plead guilty to two of the five charges, the remaining three counts would be dismissed and Karr would get credit for the six months he already served in the Sonoma County jail during the 2001 court proceedings.

Karr also would get three years probation and have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

http://cbs5.com/localwire/localfsnews/bcn/2006/09/19/n/HeadlineNews/KARR-COURT/resources_bcn_html

Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse then disclosed an offer by the prosecution that means no jail time for Karr, the former substitute teacher in Sonoma and Napa counties and San Francisco.

Under the offer, Karr would plead guilty to two of the five charges, the remaining three counts would be dismissed and Karr would get credit for the six months he already served in the Sonoma County jail during the 2001 court proceedings.

Karr also would get three years probation and have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

This is what I thought would happen. The D.A. knows she has a weak case--the object is to have John Mark Karr declared a sexual offender so he has to register. If Amparan wants to go to trial, he can probably win this case, hands down.

Karr offered plea bargain
By LORI A. CARTER

Sonoma County prosecutors unexpectedly offered John Mark Karr a plea bargain to reduced charges Tuesday that would require no further jail time but would force him to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

One of Karr’s attorneys said he would discuss the offer with his client, but that Karr is innocent of the possession of child *advertiser censored* charges filed in 2001 and is prepared to defend himself at trial.

Karr is facing five misdemeanor counts of possessing pornographic images of children, for which he served more than five months in jail in 2001.

Prosecutor Joan Risse said the District Attorney’s Office would drop three of the charges if Karr would admit to two others. He would not be required to serve more time in custody, but prosecutors would seek three years of formal probation.

The plea offer would require Karr to register under the state’s Megan’s Law as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Judge Cerena Wong set Karr’s bail at $200,000, saying he is a flight risk. Such a bail would require $20,000 in cash and $200,000 in collateral.

Attorney Rob Amparán said it was unlikely Karr could raise the bond to secure his release.

Wong also confirmed the trial date for October 2, when a panel of prospective jurors will be called to the courtroom.

http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060919/NEWS/60919013

Buzzm1 said:

Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse then disclosed an offer by the prosecution that means no jail time for Karr, the former substitute teacher in Sonoma and Napa counties and San Francisco.

Under the offer, Karr would plead guilty to two of the five charges, the remaining three counts would be dismissed and Karr would get credit for the six months he already served in the Sonoma County jail during the 2001 court proceedings.

Karr also would get three years probation and have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

This is what I thought would happen. The D.A. knows she has a weak case--the object is to have John Mark Karr declared a sexual offender so he has to register. If Amparan wants to go to trial, he can probably win this case, hands down.

Click to expand...

So I guess that means no additional evidence was found, despite any new technology that could have been used? You don't think it was because that five deleted photos was all there ever was, do you?

If I were Karr, I'd go to trial. What's he got to lose? He needs to expose Wendy.

Thanks everyone for posting the articles and links!! Hmmm...I also wonder now if he'll accept the "offer" or choose to go to trial. I'm sure the prosecutor made the offer just to get this whole thing over with. These were only misdemeanor charges, and the whole thing about a change of venue, etc. would be above and beyond what the State wants to put into this case. I believe the prosecutor is just doing what they probably wanted to five years ago, which would be normal for such a case.

panthera said:

Thanks everyone for posting the articles and links!! Hmmm...I also wonder now if he'll accept the "offer" or choose to go to trial. I'm sure the prosecutor made the offer just to get this whole thing over with. These were only misdemeanor charges, and the whole thing about a change of venue, etc. would be above and beyond what the State wants to put into this case. I believe the prosecutor is just doing what they probably wanted to five years ago, which would be normal for such a case.

Click to expand...

I think the D.A. is hoping that Karr will accept the plea deal, otherwise it certainly will go to trial. Karr has a very good legal team and I think they will take it to trial, even just on the issue of Karr having to register as a sex offender. There was some issue of illegal search and seizure on the computer, and also that Wendy Hutchens set John Mark Karr up.

Original Charges----------------Plea Deal

5 counts of possession---------2 counts of possession
1 year prison for each charge---Time served, three years probation
Register as Sex Offender--------Register as Sex Offender

I agree with Lighthouse Lover. I am delighted that Karr has gotten himself what appears to be a very experienced team of lawyers. I would love to see this go to trial, because I honestly believe there were some serious improptieties executed by both the Sheriff's Office and Wendy Hutchens.
Karr is very peculiar, but last I knew there was no law against being peculiar. I think he was set up.

i.b.nora said:

I agree with Lighthouse Lover. I am delighted that Karr has gotten himself what appears to be a very experienced team of lawyers. I would love to see this go to trial, because I honestly believe there were some serious improptieties executed by both the Sheriff's Office and Wendy Hutchens.
Karr is very peculiar, but last I knew there was no law against being peculiar. I think he was set up.

Click to expand...

My money is on the Amparan team; it certainly appears that Wendy Hutchens set Karr up. There isn't any doubt that Karr does have a fascination with little girls, and he probably does need to be put on the Sex Offenders list, but that is based mostly on what we have come to know about John Mark Karr's activities, after his 2001 arrest. The charges against him are 5 misdemeanor counts of possession of child *advertiser censored*, and flight to avoid prosecution, not on anything he may have done since that 2001 arrest.

2000 - December, through March 2001, he worked in the Petaluma, Old Adobe, Liberty and Wilmar elementary districts as a substitute school teacher.

2001 – early in year, John Mark Karr contacts Wendy Hutchens re: Richard Allan Davis (murdered Polly Klaas in October, 1993, now on Death Row in San Quentin, awaiting execution). Hutchens worked as an informant for Sonoma County Sheriff's Detective Beau Martin, wearing a wire and taping conversations and saving e-mail messages from Karr. The material she gathered was the basis for a search warrant that investigators say resulted in the discovery of child *advertiser censored* in Karr's computer.

Sun 3/25 11:17 pm E-Mail John Karr Alyssa

image: AJFardella 3105174507
Wed 3/28 4:21 am E-Mail Wendy Hutchens Pictures of Alyssa 1 of 4
Wed 3/28 4:23 am E-Mail Wendy Hutchens Pictures of Alyssa 2 of 4
Wed 3/28 4:24 am E-Mail Wendy Hutchens Pictures of Alyssa 3 of 4
Wed 3/28 5:36 am E-Mail Wendy Hutchens Pictures of Alyssa 4 of 4

Fri 3/30 8:24 pm E-Mail Wendy Hutchens Alyssa says Hi!

2001 - April 3, Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies seized a computer at Karr’s Petaluma home containing five pornographic images of children.

2001 – April 13: Karr was arrested, and jailed, on five misdemeanor charges of possession of child *advertiser censored* (California Penal Code Section 311.11), and was booked into Sonoma County Jail on $100,000 bail.

2001 - - April 17: Karr pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to court documents

2001 – April 19, Karr's wife Lara filed for divorce

2001 – Oct. 5: After a series of court hearings, Karr was released from jail, without bail, but was ordered to report to a probation officer and avoid child *advertiser censored*, children and places where children congregate, such as schools, beaches and parks. The court records in the case were sealed. A judge ordered Karr to stay away from Wendy Hutchens in a 2001 court order setting conditions for release from a Sonoma County jail after being held for six months on the child *advertiser censored* charges.

2001 – November: A judge issues a restraining order, compelling Karr to stay 100 yards away from his wife and three children for three years. The divorce is finalized.

2001 – December: A warrant was issued for Karr's arrest after authorities said he violated the terms of his supervised release by failing to appear for a court hearing.

08-16-06 Karr arrested in Thailand

08-20-06 Karr extradited from Thailand to Los Angeles, CA

08-22-06 Karr waived extradition to Boulder, CO

08-24-06 Karr flown from L.A. to Boulder, CO

08-28-06 No DNA match. CO drops charges against Karr

08-29-06 CO Judge orders Karr to be extradited to Sonoma County, CA by 09-13-06

09-06-06 San Francisco attorney Robert M. Amparan told Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Cerena Wong that Karr was asserting his right to a speedy trial, meaning the case would have to be heard within 30 days (which would be by Oct. 6)

09-08-06 Extradition attempted from Boulder prevented. Speculation of federal charges.

09-12-06 Karr extradited from Boulder, CO to Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, CA

09-14-06 Karr's Sonoma County, CA arraignment held at 8:30AM before Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Cerena Wong. Robert M. Amparan will represent Karr. http://pier5law.com/robert-amparan.htm Gayle Gutekunst, is another one of Karr's attorneys

09-19-06 Hearing on when the trial will start and on whether Karr's no-bail status should change. Judge Cerena Wong set Karr’s bail at $200,000, saying he is a flight risk. Such a bail would require $20,000 in cash and $200,000 in collateral. Chief Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse said the District Attorney’s Office would drop three of the charges if Karr would admit to two others. He would not be required to serve more time in custody, but prosecutors would seek three years of formal probation. The plea offer would require Karr to register under the state’s Megan’s Law as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Original Charges----------------Plea Deal

5 counts of possession---------2 counts of possession
1 year prison for each charge---Time served, three years probation
Register as Sex Offender--------Register as Sex Offender

10-02-06 Trial scheduled to begin before Judge Cerena Wong

Karr currently faces five charges on Section 311.11, possession of child *advertiser censored*, and a flight to avoid prosecution charge

i.b.nora said:

I agree with Lighthouse Lover. I am delighted that Karr has gotten himself what appears to be a very experienced team of lawyers. I would love to see this go to trial, because I honestly believe there were some serious improptieties executed by both the Sheriff's Office and Wendy Hutchens.
Karr is very peculiar, but last I knew there was no law against being peculiar. I think he was set up.

Click to expand...

Set up or not, he's not merely peculiar - he's definitely a pedophile - just from the information about how young he got his two wives, and what he has written. He just ain't right! I don't know if he was set up or not, but I don't think he's safe to leave walking around.

Buzzm1 said:

I think the D.A. is hoping that Karr will accept the plea deal, otherwise it certainly will go to trial. Karr has a very good legal team and I think they will take it to trial, even just on the issue of Karr having to register as a sex offender. There was some issue of illegal search and seizure on the computer, and also that Wendy Hutchens set John Mark Karr up.

Original Charges----------------Plea Deal

5 counts of possession---------2 counts of possession
1 year prison for each charge---Time served, three years probation
Register as Sex Offender--------Register as Sex Offender

Click to expand...

Sorry it took me a while to get back to you. That is a hard call to make...taking his chances with a jury, after everyone has heard all about him re: the Ramsey case. I'm sure he'd want to fight the "register as a sex offender" part of the deal, but what if the jury were to convict him on all charges and he could be sentenced to serve more time?

i.b.nora said:

I agree with Lighthouse Lover. I am delighted that Karr has gotten himself what appears to be a very experienced team of lawyers. I would love to see this go to trial, because I honestly believe there were some serious improptieties executed by both the Sheriff's Office and Wendy Hutchens.
Karr is very peculiar, but last I knew there was no law against being peculiar. I think he was set up.

Click to expand...

I agree about him being set up. I'd personally like to see Wendy Hutchens facing charges. He probably will take his chances if he believes he's innocent; but as far as a jury separating 2001 from what information we have now, that's another matter. If he does decide to go to trial, I wish his defense team "good luck" with jury selection.

If the evidence on the possession of child *advertiser censored* isn't at all solid against Karr, this will be test of the jury system. To see if they actually come back with a Not Guilty.

Buzzm1 said:

If the evidence on the possession of child *advertiser censored* isn't at all solid against Karr, this will be test of the jury system. To see if they actually come back with a Not Guilty.

Click to expand...

I don't know if I'd want to take the risk. As I said, the jury may not be able to separate then from now.
:doh:

Karr computer missing
By LORI A. CARTER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

On the day prosecutors offered John Mark Karr a plea bargain, Sonoma County sheriff's officials Tuesday acknowledged they lost a computer containing images used to charge Karr with possessing child *advertiser censored*.

A sheriff's spokesman said the computer - one of at least two seized from Karr's Petaluma residence in April 2001 - may have been missing since early 2002.

Karr gained national notoriety last month when he admitted, apparently falsely, on television in Bangkok, Thailand, that he had been present at the 1996 slaying of 6-year-old beauty pageant contestant JonBenet Ramsey in Boulder, Colo.

"It appears that in the move from the old office to the new building, it was either lost or accidentally purged. But, no, we have not been able to locate it," Sheriff's Lt. Dave Edmonds said Tuesday.

Printed copies of five images, which purportedly show children in sexual situations and a detailed report of the hard drive contents were retained, Edmonds said.

"The loss of the original media is a mistake. It was an error, definitely," he said. "It is unfortunate, but we don't think that significantly changes the provability of the case."

Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos said the loss of the original source of the evidence will not critically damage the case.

"We think we will still get in the evidence that we need," he said. "We feel we have sufficient evidence to still link the images to Mr. Karr."

http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060920/NEWS/609200304/1033/NEWS01

Buzzm1 said:

Karr computer missing
By LORI A. CARTER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

On the day prosecutors offered John Mark Karr a plea bargain, Sonoma County sheriff's officials Tuesday acknowledged they lost a computer containing images used to charge Karr with possessing child *advertiser censored*.

A sheriff's spokesman said the computer - one of at least two seized from Karr's Petaluma residence in April 2001 - may have been missing since early 2002.

Karr gained national notoriety last month when he admitted, apparently falsely, on television in Bangkok, Thailand, that he had been present at the 1996 slaying of 6-year-old beauty pageant contestant JonBenet Ramsey in Boulder, Colo.

"It appears that in the move from the old office to the new building, it was either lost or accidentally purged. But, no, we have not been able to locate it," Sheriff's Lt. Dave Edmonds said Tuesday.

Printed copies of five images, which purportedly show children in sexual situations and a detailed report of the hard drive contents were retained, Edmonds said.

"The loss of the original media is a mistake. It was an error, definitely," he said. "It is unfortunate, but we don't think that significantly changes the provability of the case."

Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos said the loss of the original source of the evidence will not critically damage the case.

"We think we will still get in the evidence that we need," he said. "We feel we have sufficient evidence to still link the images to Mr. Karr."

http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060920/NEWS/609200304/1033/NEWS01

Click to expand...

--->>>Well IF IF all else fails, perhaps the Sonoma County PD will put a tail on Karr and follow him like a SHADOW, and make some interesting ARRESTS LATER, WHEN he connects some pedophilia sp? dots together for them.

Sounds like a plan to me, they do it on TV, why not in real life? "Tail him Dan!" The PD might do better with a BIGGER thing to watch and take care of.

Buzzml posted quote in part ""We think we will still get in the evidence that we need," he said. "We feel we have sufficient evidence to still link the images to Mr. Karr."

Yes sure, everything but the WHO, WHAT, WHERE AND WHEN deal!
Plus the suspects fingerprints are NOT on the pictures, huh.

Plus the judge says to Karr, "Are these your pictures?" Suspect says, "Nope". The end.

"Tail him Dan!"

:banghead:

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