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Ricci Charged with Being Habitual Criminal

Aired July 11, 2002 - 14:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Richard Ricci is charged with being a habitual criminal. However, the charges are not related to 14-year- old Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping. But, could these developments provide any new clues in the investigation?

CNN's Mark Potter once again joins us from Salt Lake City -- Mark.

MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. Well, just a short while ago, Richard Ricci was charged with one count of burglary and two counts of misdemeanor theft. These charges do not relate to the abduction itself, but they are very serious charges. And if, as you said, he is convicted under the habitual criminal statute under which he is charged here, he could face up to life in prison. Even though the charges themselves are not that serious, under the habitual criminal statute, he could get a major sentence, again, if he is convicted.

Now, he is accused of taking items from the Smart home, the home of Ed and Lois Smart, the parents of the missing girl, Elizabeth Smart, in June of last year when he, Ricci, worked there. The items taken, according to the information filed by the district attorney's office, are jewelry, a bottle of perfume, and a wineglass filled with sea shells. According to the paperwork, Ricci admitted to that.

He is also accused of breaking into another house in that neighborhood in April of last year, doing that while the people were inside the house asleep. He is accused there of taking jewelry and $300 in cash. That was reported by the family. According to the information, Ricci has admitted to taking the jewelry and $100 in cash.

Now, authorities also talked more broadly about the abduction investigation, saying that Ricci continues to be a focus. All the investigators that we have talked to on a source level say that he is still the focus, but the chief says he is a focus, and that others are being sought, at least for questioning, in connection with that investigation into the abduction. Police also -- according to the chief, are considering, still, at least two scenarios under which the abduction occurred.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK DINSE, CHIEF, SALT LAKE CITY POLICE: Primarily, we're looking at somebody who had access to the house, knew the house or saw -- had availability to the house, and know -- how to get in and get around in there. We are also looking at the possibility it could have been a burglary that went awry. Certainly, this fits under the charge that we have with Mr. Ricci. We're also looking at the possibility that it was a predator who had staked her out, watched her over a period of time, and went in and took her for sexual purposes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POTTER: Now, as to the letter -- as to the letter that was received yesterday by the family, or announced yesterday by the family, from someone who supposedly was in touch with the -- an abductor of the young girl, Elizabeth Smart, asking to negotiate her release, the police chief said today that after looking at it, the investigators really do not believe that that letter has any credibility. Even Ed Smart, the father, said that he questioned the credibility. The police have now said they really do not think that this was anything other than a hoax.

The head of the FBI here also said that as to the videotape, taken from a security camera at a hospital in the parking lot the night of the abduction of two cars, he said that the quality of that tape, even though it was enhanced by the FBI laboratory, is not something that they can work with, and authorities do not think that that videotape is going to help them in the investigation. They will still look at it, the FBI chief said, but, again, that seems to be another lead in this very difficult case that did not quite pan out -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks, Mark, with the latest there from Salt Lake City.

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