2nd Man Charged With Theft Of Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers
A second man has been charged in connection with the 2005 theft of a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz,” according to authorities, who said he threatened to release a sex tape of a woman. when she told authorities about the theft.
The man, Jerry Hal Saliterman, 76, of Hennepin County, Minnesota, was charged Friday with one count of theft of major works of art and one count of witness tampering, according to court documents released Sunday. He did not enter a plea when he appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Paul on Friday.
The famous red sequin pumps, one of many pairs worn by Garland during the film “The Wizard of Oz,” were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005. The whereabouts of the slippers were a mystery for years. until 2018, when the FBI announced they had been recovered.
According to the indictment, between August 2005 and July 2018, Mr. Saliterman “received, concealed and disposed of an object of cultural heritage,” referring to the ruby slippers, which he knew had been stolen, according to the indictment. Last year, Mr. Saliterman tried to intimidate an unknown woman by threatening to reveal a sex tape of her to her family if “she didn’t keep her mouth shut” and spoke to the FBI about the theft, according to the indictment.
Mr. Saliterman was released on his own recognizance on Friday, according to court documents. He was photographed leaving the courthouse in a wheelchair, carrying a portable ventilator. His next court appearance had not yet been scheduled as of Monday afternoon.
It was unclear whether more arrests were expected in connection with the theft.
John Brink, a lawyer for Mr. Saliterman, said Monday that Mr. Saliterman planned to plead not guilty when he is arraigned.
“He didn’t do anything wrong,” Mr. Brink said.
Prosecutors declined to comment on the case while it is ongoing.
The first man charged in the case, Terry Martin, 76, of Minnesota, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of theft of major works of art. He received no time in prison and was instead sentenced in January to a year of supervised release. Mr. Martin was also ordered to pay $23,5000 in restitution to the Judy Garland Museum.
Federal prosecutors and Mr. Martin’s lawyers agreed that he should serve no prison time because he has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, requires oxygen and is in hospice care. Prosecutors said in January that Mr. Martin was not expected to live beyond the next six months.
Dane DeKrey, a lawyer for Mr. Martin, wrote in court papers that Mr. Martin had “no idea” that the ruby slippers were such well-known cultural objects in American film and that he believed the shoes were made with “real rubies.” . ‘ that he could peel off and sell on the black market. Mr Martin said his plan was foiled when he learned the gemstones were made of glass.
Mr. Martin had previous experience with stolen jewelry and had served time in prison for burglary, according to Mr. DeKrey. In 2005, Mr. Martin had already been out of prison for 10 years when he was approached by a “longtime mob associate” about “a job,” Mr. DeKrey wrote in court papers.
It was unclear whether authorities alleged that Mr. Saliterman asked Mr. Martin to steal the ruby slippers. Public records show Mr. Saliterman has a lengthy criminal history, with prior charges of fraud, theft and shoplifting.
Mr. Saliterman was sentenced to 10 years in prison in April 1988 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud the federal government and credit card fraud, The Star Tribune in Minneapolis reported at the time. Mr. Saliterman was one of two people who had been part of “a sophisticated fencing ring that dealt in expensive furs, works of art and sports cars,” the newspaper reported.