Wednesday, December 20, 2006

The rest of the story


The rest of the story

I would like to take this opportunity to respond to the full-page advertisement taken out by Gary Goldberg in the December 8 and 13, 2006, editions of the Idaho Mountain Express and tell you "the rest of the story". I know this story as my office prosecuted Mr. Goldberg for this crime.

On Dec. 26, 2005, Ketchum police received information that a sculpture known as "Herd Bull", which had been reported stolen by the Kneeland Gallery months earlier, was seen during an open house at the residence of Gary Goldberg. This sculpture was identified by its serial number and was valued at $7,500. Mr. Goldberg was questioned by Ketchum Police officers and stated that he purchased the item from "some Mexicans" out of the trunk of a car at the Veltex Market and had never seen the sculpture before. During a search of Mr. Goldberg's residence, police also found a stolen moose bronze valued at $2,200 and a stolen bear bronze valued at $1,500. Mr. Goldberg was arrested and bonded out of jail that same day. At the preliminary hearing, employees of the Kneeland Gallery testified that Mr. Goldberg was a frequent customer and had admired the "Herd Bull" sculpture on previous occasions.

Given the the evidence against him, Mr. Goldberg chose not to go to trial and to plead guilty to the felony charge of grand theft by possession, in exchange for the prosecution dropping two additional counts of grand theft for the stolen moose and bear sculptures. Mr. Goldberg was represented by an attorney at all stages of the proceedings and is now serving three years of felony probation. If Mr. Goldberg violates the terms of his probation, he could go to prison for up to 14 years.

Contrary to Mr. Goldberg's assertion that he was victimized by an overzealous and corrupt police investigation, Mr. Goldberg was a victim of his own brand of arrogance. He asserted his privileged status as a defense, and maligned our Hispanic community by furthering erroneous and harmful stereotypes. If Mr. Goldberg is to learn from this episode and begin the process of rehabilitation and integration back into the community, he must first accept the fact that he chose to do wrong and that money or status do not give one a license to operate their affairs outside the boundaries of the law.

Mr. Goldberg finished his paid advertisement by quoting Churchill who stated: "A lie gets halfway around world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." For Mr. Goldberg, it is time to put his pants on and accept the truth. The police did not mistreat him based on their resentment of his self-perceived "status" in our community. The police did what they do every day, which involves investigating crimes in a professional manner without thanks or riches. These under-appreciated professionals are the people who stand watch to protect us from harm. I, for one, am thankful for the work they do.

Jim Thomas

Blaine County prosecuting attorney

Hailey




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