Anticipated responsible plea for man in ‘Wizard of Oz’ ruby slippers case postponed resulting from hospitalization

U.S. District Decide Patrick Schiltz granted the continuance on the request of the legal professional for Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, of Crystal, who was planning to vary his plea to responsible at a listening to that was scheduled for this coming Friday.

Protection lawyer John Brink mentioned Saliterman was hospitalized Jan. 3 “for lack of ability to stroll and sepsis,” an an infection that may be life-threatening. He wrote that Saliterman remained hospitalized Wednesday and that docs have no idea when he will likely be obtainable. Federal prosecutors didn’t object.

Saliterman attended his arraignment Monday by way of video from what appeared like a hospital room. He was in a wheelchair and on supplemental oxygen final March at his first court docket look. He was charged then with theft of a significant art work and witness tampering for his function within the ruby slippers case.

The slippers have been stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids. Their whereabouts remained a thriller for practically 13 years till the FBI recovered them in 2018. They fetched a document for film memorabilia of $32.5 million final month, based on Heritage Auctions.

The person who stole them, Terry Jon Martin, now 77, of Grand Rapids, pleaded responsible in 2023. He was sentenced final January to time served due to his poor well being.

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