[MSN] Man might face trial in Filson Society letter thefts

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Man might face trial in Filson Society letter thefts 
Judge withdraws OK of Eckard's guilty plea 

By Kay Stewart
kstewart at courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



A man accused of stealing letters from the Filson Historical Society -
- letters written by Thomas Jefferson and other famous figures -- 
might have to stand trial rather than plead guilty. 

A U.S. District judge yesterday withdrew her approval of Donald E. 
Eckard Sr.'s guilty plea to eight counts of felony art theft because 
Eckard has said he cannot specifically recall taking the items, even 
though he's sure of his guilt. 


   
Because the law requires an admission of knowingly committing the 
crime, Judge Jennifer Coffman set a trial date for March 26. 

Eckard, 71, claimed he had amnesia at a sentencing hearing in May. 
Sentencing was postponed and Coffman ordered Eckard to undergo a 
psychiatric evaluation. 

Larry Simon, Eckard's lawyer, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Long 
told the judge yesterday that they will try to resolve the case 
through a plea agreement before the trial date. 

But substituting another appropriate charge was ruled out because it 
also requires admission of knowingly committing the crime, Long said. 


Eckard had pleaded guilty to stealing the letters in 2003 and 2004. 
They included three written by Jefferson; two by explorer William 
Clark; one by Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy; and 
another by President John Quincy Adams. 

Each of the eight theft counts carries a maximum penalty of 10 years 
in prison. 

According to court records, Eckard, a retired advertising executive, 
used aliases of Filson members to gain entry to the society's 
collections. 

The society has said it tightened security to prevent more thefts. 

Reporter Kay Stewart can be reached at (502) 582-4114. 

http://www.courier-journal.com/