Police: Suspect lured women by posing as photographer
A convicted felon accused of killing a Santa Monica woman pleaded not guilty to capital murder charges on Wednesday.
Victor Paleologus, 40, stood behind a glass wall in Superior Court in downtown Los Angeles with his private attorney, Andrew Flier. If convicted, Paleologus could face the death penalty.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office alleges Paleologus on Feb. 15 killed and sexually assaulted Kristi Johnson, a 21-year-old Santa Monica College student, two days before he was arrested in Beverly Hills for grand theft auto and five other related felony charges.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 23.
Paleologus, who has a long criminal history, was only out of state prison for about a month before he was arrested on Feb. 17 for allegedly stealing a car from a Beverly Hills BMW dealership under a false identity. He has been in jail ever since.
Earlier this month Paleologus replaced a public defender assigned to the case and retained Flier, a high-profile criminal defense attorney. It is unknown who is paying for Flier’s services, but it’s someone who is acting on Paleologus’ behalf, Flier said.
Flier said Wednesday Paleologus believes that he was targeted in the murder case based on his criminal past. Paleologus claims he didn’t kill Johnson, Flier added.
“I think the evidence is weak and predicated on his past,” Flier said. “We are telling the DA if you have additional evidence, you better show it to us right away.”
Flier added the evidence presented by the DA is all circumstantial — there are no fingerprints, DNA or blood samples that link Paleologus to Johnson’s murder.
In addition to the evidence gathered in the Santa Monica Police Department’s investigation, Deputy District Attorney Eleanor Hunter plans to present witnesses at the preliminary hearing, which is expected to last up to two days.
“May the truth prevail.” — — TERRY WARK Johnson’s mother
Johnson’s mother, Terry Wark, who lives in Los Gatos, Calif., said she is confident Paleologus is guilty of murdering her only daughter. She said she hopes the judicial system doesn’t fail her, her family or the public.
“The focus of the legal process now initiated is to serve justice and protect our citizens from the horrible creature who committed these acts,” she said. “Shoddy, predictable legal antics and courtroom dramatics sustaining a criminal are sludge burdening the system. May the truth prevail.”
After national attention of Johnson’s disappearance on Feb. 15 and a two-week search, Johnson’s body was found on March 3, partially clothed, wrists bound and covered in a sleeping bag on a steep hillside off of Skyline Drive, a remote neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills.
Santa Monica Police zeroed in on Paleologus as a suspect in the case a little more than a week after Johnson disappeared. Based on anonymous tips and around the clock investigating by Santa Monica detectives, authorities were able to link Paleologus to Johnson’s disappearance and subsequently, her murder.
After completing its investigation, the SMPD turned the case over to the DA which charged Paleologus on May 12 with capital murder. The DA won’t determine whether to seek the death penalty against Paleologus until he is ordered to stand trial, said DA spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.
Paleologus, who apparently met Johnson at the Century City Mall previously, allegedly lured her by claiming to be a publicity photographer. He then allegedly killed her and dumped her body in Laurel Canyon in Hollywood Hills, the DA alleges.
Johnson disappeared after telling her roommates she was going to Beverly Hills to meet a man claiming to be a publicity photographer.
Paleologus has an extensive criminal rap sheet including luring and victimizing young, attractive women by claiming to be a photographer in the entertainment industry. His criminal history dates back more than a decade and he is described as a predator.
Police say Paleologus allegedly poses as a publicity photographer for a specific film title that he’s used as his ruse multiple times. In fact, in one instance that led to a conviction, Paleologus allegedly used the exact same film title to lure his victim as he did with Johnson, police said.
He has two prior convictions of assault with intent to commit rape, Flier said.
Paleologus got three years probation after a jury deadlocked on charges against him in 1991 for attempted rape, assault and false imprisonment. He allegedly lured a woman into a hotel room after telling her she would meet famous people including Madonna at a party for record executives. Paleologus then allegedly tied the woman to a hotel bed and attempted to rape her but she was able to escape.
Paleologus has been convicted of six felonies since 1998 ranging from grand theft to burglary to assault.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 12, 2003. Read the original PDF.