“It’s really up to the judge who sealed the documents,” said Los Angeles Superior Court spokesman Kyle Christoperson “I don’t know what possible action the judge would take.”
The Santa Monica Courthouse, one of six locations in the Superior Court system on the westside, is routinely used as a place to hold sensitive documents in high profile cases, Kondo said.
While it is unknown how many people have access to the probation department, only one person holds the key to the file cabinet where the document has been for several months, Kondo said. He declined to reveal who that employee is because the incident is under investigation. Kondo couldn’t say if the cabinet was opened with a key or if it was broken into.
“We are conducting our own investigation to find the cause and review our procedures,” Kondo said. “We are concerned that a high profile case was tampered with.
“It’s highly unusual that this kind of thing happens,” he added. “It was in an office that doesn’t have much traffic.”
Geragos, Ryder’s defense attorney, didn’t return calls from the Daily Press on Friday. Judge Fox was unavailable for comment.
The two-time Academy Award nominee was arrested Dec. 12, 2001 as she left the Beverly Hills Saks, her arms laden with packages. The jury was showed videotapes of her wandering through bou-tiques and taking large amounts of clothes into dressing rooms.
At the start of her shopping, Ryder paid more than $3,000 for a jacket and two blouses. The defense claimed Ryder believed the store would keep her account “open” and charge her later. But there was no evidence of an account.
The videotapes did not show Ryder cutting off sensor tags with scissors, but a security guard testified she looked through door slats and witnessed the vandalism. Security staff also testified that after being caught, Ryder claimed a director had told her to shoplift to prepare for a movie role.
Geragos has said he will file a motion for a new trial on Dec. 6. The prosecution has said it won’t seek jail time for Ryder, who has been treated for depression and exhaustion in the past.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 9, 2002. Read the original PDF.