[MSN] Ketchum man sentenced in art theft case. Goldberg pleads guilty to possession of stolen property.

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Ketchum man sentenced in art theft case
Goldberg pleads guilty to possession of stolen property
by TERRY SMITH

 Sgt. Dave Kassner delivers a bronze sculpture at the Ketchum Police
Department Tuesday afternoon for its return to Kneeland Gallery, from where
it was stolen more than a year ago. Watching Kassner is gallery director
Carey Molter, left, and gallery associate Kristina Farris. Photo by Willy
Cook  
 
Photo:
http://www.mtexpress.com/story_printer.php?ID=2005113064


A Ketchum man has been sentenced to 30 days in jail, fined $3,000 and placed
on three years probation after pleading guilty to felony possession of a
bronze sculpture stolen more than a year ago from Kneeland Gallery in
Ketchum. 

The sentence against 49-year-old Gary J. Goldberg was imposed Oct. 30 by
Blaine County 5th District Court Judge Robert J. Elgee. Goldberg pleaded
guilty on Sept. 1 to grand theft by possession of stolen property. 

Meanwhile, the missing sculpture of a bull and four cow elk was retrieved by
Kneeland Gallery on Tuesday afternoon after being held as evidence by the
Ketchum Police Department since Goldberg was arrested last December. 

"We're really relieved that we're getting it back," said gallery director
Carey Molter. "We've been without this piece for a year now." 

Two other bronze sculptures, one of a moose bust and the other of a bear,
were also returned to Kneeland Gallery. The two pieces are believed to have
been stolen at the same time as the elk sculpture. 

Molter said the elk sculpture is valued at $7,500, while the other two
pieces are worth $2,000 each. 

She said the three sculptures were most likely stolen during a Ketchum
Gallery Walk on Oct. 7, 2005. Since the three pieces were in a storage room
and not on display, their disappearance was not discovered until later that
month when Molter filed a police report. 

The case against Goldberg stems back to Dec 26, 2005, when the missing elk
sculpture was discovered at a residence he owned at 145 Bird Drive #D in
Ketchum, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by Ketchum police
officer David Avelar. 

The affidavit reports that Barrett Molter, a real estate agent and the
husband of Carey Molter, noticed the sculpture during an open house of the
residence. 

Avelar wrote in the affidavit that he interviewed Goldberg, who told him
that he purchased the sculpture from a "car load of Mexicans" for $500.
However, Avelar wrote, Goldberg could not produce a receipt and also
acknowledged having possession of the two other pieces. 

"Goldberg told me that he suspected the items were stolen from someone's
home or from a local gallery," Avelar wrote. 

A jury trial for Goldberg was to have started on Aug. 30, 2006, but instead
Goldberg pleaded guilty to the charge two days later. 

In sentencing, Elgee ordered a withheld judgment, which provides for
dismissal of the charge if Goldberg satisfactorily meets the provisions of
his three years probation. 

According to the terms of his probation, Goldberg is not allowed to consume
alcohol or illegal drugs and is prohibited from frequenting bars or taverns.
His person, vehicle, residence or property is subject to search at any time
by police, and he is required to submit to blood, urine or breath tests at
the request of his probation officer or police. 

Goldberg's attorney, Michael Kraynick, said neither he nor his client has
any comment on the case. 

Carey Molter said she feels that Goldberg's sentence was lenient, but she
was satisfied with the conditions of his probation. 

It was the second theft experienced by the gallery in 2005. A 9-foot-tall
wood and acrylic piece depicting an American Indian and entitled "American
Horse" was stolen from Festival Field on Sun Valley Road during an
installation sponsored by Kneeland Gallery in June 2005. That piece was
later returned by two teenage girls who claimed it was taken by friends. 

Molter said the gallery has increased security, including camera coverage of
remote areas of the store, since last year's thefts. 

"It's a sad reflection of the times in this valley," she said. 

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