| Ricci Named In Thefts; Chief Cites A 'Pattern' |
Friday, July 12, 2002 |
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE James Burrus, FBI talks to media at the Smart press conference Thursday morning. Sierra Smart, Elizabeth's cousin, and Chris Smart, Elizabeth's uncle are in the background. photo by Rick Egan 7-11-2002%% Last year, in the middle of an April night,Richard Albert Ricci broke into a home in Elizabeth Smart's Federal Heights neighborhood and awakened a woman as he rummaged through a darkened bedroom, according to a burglary charge filed against Ricci on Thursday. The sleepy house guest thought the intruder was a family member and simply rolled over and went back to sleep. The next morning, homeowner Sue Ann Adams found a sliding glass door open and discovered jewelry and cash were missing. While acknowledging that Thursday's burglary charge had nothing to do with Elizabeth's June 5 disappearance, police say Ricci's alleged break-in shows he was brazen enough to enter a home where people are sleeping. "It shows a pattern of [Ricci's] conduct," said Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse, who has placed Ricci at the top of the list of potential suspects in the abduction of 14-year-old Elizabeth from her bedroom while her parents slept. Ricci also was charged Thursday with third-degree felony theft for allegedly pilfering $3,500 worth of jewelry, perfume and other items from the Smart home while he worked odd household jobs for the family in June 2001. In the Adams case, Ricci is charged with second-degree felony burglary and class A misdemeanor theft. Ricci, 48, has repeatedly declared his innocence in Elizabeth's abduction and faces no charges connected to the case. He "is not the sole focus of the investigation," Dinse said. Lacking sufficient evidence at this time tying Ricci to Elizabeth's disappearance, Dinse added: "If I could have charged him, I would have." Ricci's lawyer, David K. Smith, pointed out in a statement he read to reporters Thursday that "the charges are for conduct that occurred over one year ago and have nothing whatsoever to do with the disappearance of Elizabeth Smart. "That said, Mr. Ricci would like me to convey his sincere apologies to the Smart family, and like you, he prays for Elizabeth's safe return," the statement said. Smith later added that his client, who has taken two lie-detector tests, would be willing to submit to more to clear his name. "He has attempted to be as forthcoming as possible; he is willing to do anything" authorities ask, Smith said. Ricci admitted to the separate thefts when questioned by investigators last month, according to the charges filed in 3rd District Court. In both cases, prosecutors filed a "habitual criminal" sentencing enhancement against the career criminal, which could result in life sentences if he is convicted. Ricci is being held without bail because he violated his parole, prosecutors said. Ricci's father-in-law and next-door neighbor, David Morse, said Ricci is being scrutinized only because of his past criminal convictions -- which include attempted murder of a police officer and aggravated robbery, both first-degree felonies. Police "are just making everybody think they're doing a good job; they're just pulling at straws," Morse said of Thursday's charges. Ricci "has got a past he's paid for." Morse added that Ricci's wife, Angela, who has told police that Ricci was home asleep with her during Elizabeth's abduction, "is taking it pretty hard." Though police refused to comment on forensic evidence, they took a tan golf hat and a large machete from Morse's mobile home last month. The only witness to Elizabeth's June 5 abduction, her 9-year-old sister Mary Katherine, said the man who took her sister was wearing a tan hat. Police also impounded Ricci's 1990 Jeep Cherokee, which he received from Elizabeth's father, Ed Smart, as partial payment for handyman duties. Also Thursday, Dinse continued to discount a letter received by Ed Smart that said Elizabeth's captor was seeking to negotiate her release. "We've looked at the letter; we know its contents," the chief said. "The contents are suspicious." Dinse did not explain why police had not tested the letter for forensic evidence. Family members said they had not pressured police to file charges against Ricci. "We have let the police go forward on their own," said Elizabeth's uncle, David Smart. "We feel law enforcement has done a good job." mvigh@sltrib.com kcantera@sltrib.com |
