THE VERDICT
Today the jury at the trial of Martin's Ferry Police Chief Barry Carpenter has found him guilty of receiving stolen property, theft in office, and tampering with evidence. The Ohio Police Chief was acquitted on charges of unauthorized use of property or services and burglary. He broke into the home of Michelle Ross, the woman who was the surrogate for actress Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband, Matthew Broderick. Ms. Ross was carrying twin girls for Ms. Parker and her husband. Chief Carpenter admitted to taking a photo of a body cast of her pregnant stomach and ultrasound photos in her surrogacy file. He also confirmed that he showed this information to paparazzi and others. He had denied that he went into her home to obtain this information. He claims he entered the home when he noticed that the back door was ajar. He has been on suspension after an investigation was done. Chief Carpenter faces a maximum of 10 years in jail. The final sentencing will be on December 10.
SURROGACY ANNOUNCEMENT MADE LAST SPRING
Sarah Jessica Parker and her actor husband Matthew Broderick had confirmed last spring that they had been unsuccessful at conceiving a second child. On the T.V. show Access Hollywood, Ms Parker said, "We have been trying to expand our family for a number of years and we actually have explored a variety of ways of doing so. "It would have been odd to have made this choice if I was able to have had successful pregnancies since my son's birth." In April they announced they would be having twin girls "thanks to the generosity of a surrogate." Their son, James Willie Broderick, is 7 years old. His twin sisters, Marion Loretta Elwell Broderick and Tabitha Hodge Broderick were born June 22, 2009.
SURROGATE EXPERIENCED HARRASSMENT
They had attempted to keep the identity and whereabouts of their surrogate a secret. Eventually the location and the name of their surrogate was revealed. She had received negative comments from some people and she expressed concern about her harrassment.
MS. PARKER'S REACTION TO HARRASSMENT OF HER SURROGATE
Upon learning of Ms. Ross's harrassment Ms Parker responded:
"The most unsavory of things have been done," Parker has said. "She's had her phone hacked, her personal computer information hacked, she's had threats against her and true harassment. ... There's simply no excuse for doing this to somebody. It's not acceptable. I am incredibly outraged by the sort of extraordinary and unprecedented invasion of her privacy."
Eventually Ms.Ross was forced to move to various locations to maintain her privacy and safety throughout her pregnancy. There was no public comment on the trial from Ms. Parker or her husband at this time. They are currently living with their son and daughters in New York City.
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