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IN AND FOR
)
)
vs
)
CASE NO. 06 CF9454AMB
)
08 9381CFAMB
JEFFREY EPSTEIN
Defendant.
)
)
)
)
9
PLEA CONFERENCE
10
11
12
APPEARANCES:
13
14
State Attorney
401 North Dixie Highway
15
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
By:
16
Assistant State Attorney
17
18
250 Australian Avenue South
Suite 1400
19
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
By: JACK GOLDBERGER, ESQUIRE
20
CERTIFIED COPY
21
22
23
June 30, 2008
24
Palm Beach County Courthouse
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
25
Beginning at 8:40 o'clock, a.m.
EFTA00594629
2
1
BE IT REMEMBERED that the following
2
proceedings were had in the above-entitled cause
3
before the HONORABLE DEBORAH DALE PUCILLO, one of
4
the judges of the aforesaid court, at the Palm
5
Beach County Courthouse, located in the City of
6
West Palm Beach, State of Florida on June 20, 2008
7
beginning at 8:40 o'clock, a.m. with appearances
8
as hereinbefore noted, to wit:
9
THEREUPON:
10
MR. GOLDBERGER: Good morning, Judge,
11
Jack Goldberger on behalf of Jeffrey
12
Epstein.
13
THE COURT: Good morning.
14
MR. GOLDBERGER: Your Honor, we are
15
here for a plea conference.
16
THE COURT: Raise your right hand.
17
THEREUPON:
18
19
after being called as a witness by the Defense and
20
after being first duly sworn by the Court, was
21
examined and testified as follows:
22
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
23
THE COURT:
Is this one case or two?
24
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Two.
25
THE COURT: May I see the PC
EFTA00594630
3
s
4
S
3
1
affidavit in both cases, please?
2
MS. BELOHLAVEK: There are no PC
3
affidavits. There was originally an
4
Indictment, the second charge was filed
5
arising out of the booking. It was all
6
testimony presented to the grand jury.
7
THE COURT: Let me see the Indictment
8
then?
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
I have one Indictment, one
Information?
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
THE COURT: So one case is charged by
Indictment, one is charged by Information?
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
THE COURT: In case 2006036744 you
are charged with procuring a person under
18 for prostitution, a second degree
18
felony, maximum penalty of fifteen years
19
Department of Corrections; minimum, some
20
period of probation. No mandatory minimum
21
apply, is that correct, State?
22
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
23
THE COURT: And in case number 06
24
9454CF, you are charged with felony
25
solicitation to prostitution, a third
EFTA00594631
4
1
degree felony, punishable by a maximum
2
penalty of five years in the Department of
3
Corrections, and a minimum, probation.
No
4
mandatory minimums, correct?
5
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
6
THE COURT: The defendant has no
7
prior criminal record?
8
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
9
MR. GOLDBERGER: Yes, Your Honor.
10
THE COURT: You checked the NCIC as
11
well as State records?
12
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Yes.
13
THE COURT: And the guideline score
14
sheet I have before me shows 21.5 months in
15
the Department of Corrections as the lowest
16
permissible prison sentence in months.
17
Both sides agree to the preparation of the
18
guideline score sheet?
19
MR. GOLDBERGER: We so agree, Your
20
Honor.
21
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Yes.
22
THE COURT: What is proposed -- it
23
goes on for pages.
24
MR. GOLDBERGER: Your Honor, much of
25
the documentation is acknowledgement by my
EFTA00594632
5
4
1
client to community control, sex offender
2
status.
3
THE COURT: I understand.
4
Okay. What is proposed -- those
• 5
are the maximums and minimums, Mr. Epstein.
6
What is proposed is that you will be
7
pleading guilty to felony solicitation to
8
prostitution and procuring a person under
9
18 for prosecution. A PSI would be waived,
10
you would be adjudicated guilty of both
11
felonies, is that correct?
12
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
13
THE COURT: And on 06 9454, the
14
defendant to be sentenced to 12-months in
15
the Palm Beach County -- detention
16
facility? He's going to do time in the
17
jail?
18
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Yes.
19
THE COURT: With credit for one day
20
served. And on 08 9381, he is to be
21
sentenced to six months in the Palm Beach
22
County jail detention facility, with credit
23
for one day served. And the six month
24
sentence is to be served consecutive to the
25
12 month sentence?
EFTA00594633
6
1
•
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
2
THE COURT: Following eife- six monEhs
3
sentence, the defendant will be placed on
4
12-months of community control one. The
conditions of the community control are
6
attached hereto and incorporated herein.
7
As a special condition of
8
community control, he's to have no
9
unsupervised contact with minors and the
10
supervising adult must be approved -- and I
11
would say, pre-approved, approved ahead of
12
time, not after the fact by the Department
13
of Corrections. And you would mean by that
14
his community control officer?
15
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
16
THE COURT: The defendant is
17
designated as a sexual offender pursuant to
18
Florida Statute 943.0435. and must abide by
19
all the corresponding requirements of the
20
statute, a copy of which is attached hereto
21
and incorporated herein. The defendant
22
must provide a DNA sample in court at the
23
time of this plea. Is this the -- and the
24
attachments are the terms and conditions of
25
community control. There are some
EFTA00594634
7
1
squiggles on the bottom of the page, what
2
would those squiggles be?
3
MR. GOLDBERGER: Thank you, Your.
4
Honor, those are my client's signature
acknowledging that we have gone over all
6
the conditions.
7
THE COURT: One page after the plea
8
sheet that really spells out the terms and
9
conditions of community control, Florida
10
Statute 948.101, Mr. Epstein, is that
11
squiggle at the bottom your squiggle?
12
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
13
THE. COURT: Would those be your
14
initials?
15
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
16
THE COURT: Did you read all of that
17
page?
18
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
19
THE COURT: Can you read?
20
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
21
THE COURT: How far did you go in
22
school?
23
THE DEFENDANT: High school.
24
THE COURT: That's your highest
25
degree?
EFTA00594635
8
1
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
2
THE COURT: And is this your
3
signature on the plea sheet that recites
4
the terms of the plea I just read?
5
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
6
THE COURT: Did you read that
7
document as well?
B
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
9
THE COURT: You understand once you
10
do your 12 months followed by your six
11
months all in the Palm Beach County jail
12
you will then be put on community control
13
which involves having an electronic monitor
14
attached to you and --
15
MR. GOLDBERGER: Actually Your Honor,
16
the agreement of the parties is to, it!s
17
community control one which is not monitor.
18
THE COURT: Oh, community control
19
one, is that spelled out in here?
20
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Yes.
21
MR. GOLDBERGER: Yes, it is, Your
22
Honor.
23
MS. BELOHLAVEK: He does not fall
24
under the Jessica Lunsford Act which
25
requires the bracelet.
EFTA00594636
9
1
'
2
3
4
THE COURT: Community control two.
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
THE COURT: Community control one --
that would be no electronic monitor?
5
MR. GOLDBERGER: That is correct.
6
THE COURT: Now which of the terms
7
and conditions of community control one are
8
you incorporating?
9
MR. GOLDBERGER: I can go through
10
them with Your Honor.
11
THE COURT: None of the them appear
12
to be articulated in the plea sheet which
13
is why I'm asking.
14
MR. GOLDBERGER: These are the
15
standard conditions of community control by
16
statute would apply to anyone that goes on
17
community control and out of an abundance
18
of caution, we simply memorialized those
19
standard conditions in the plea sheet
20
agreement.
21
THE COURT: The Court shall require
22
intensive supervision and surveillance for
23
an offender placed on community control
24
which may include but is not limited to
25
specified contact with the parole and
EFTA00594637
ro
3.
3
4
5
10
probation officer, specified by who?
--------TWOBATION- OFFICERTmStiddITI6d-by—p5W,
Your Honor.
THE COURT: I don't see that in the
plea sheet. That's why I'm asking the
6
questions. No one has specified how often,
7
how frequently he is to have contact with
8
his parole and probation officer.
9
Confinement to an agreed upon residence
10
during the hours away from employment and
11
12
13
14
15
public service activity, has that been
articulated?
MS. BELOHLAVEK: I believe
Judge McSorley has a standard order
somewhere on the bench up there regarding
16
this, I'm told by the prosecutor.
17
MS. LENHARDT: Judge, usually this is
18 .
the probation sheet she hands out to folks.
19
THE COURT: I have seen those
20
sheets -- I have seen them incorporated in
21
plea agreements which is why I'm asking.
22
MR. GOLDBERGER: I see.
23
THE COURT: Is there some reason you
24
didn't use this particular document in this
25
case?
EFTA00594638
11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
MS. BELOHLAVEK: I didn't realize
until Ms. Lenhardt just told me that Judge
McSorley has that.
MR. GOLDBERGER: We'd be happy to
execute that document, Your Honor. We were
-- we overreacted by just having him sign
off on all conditions of community control.
THE COURT: Well, this is --
MR. GOLDBERGER: Perhaps the better
practice would be --
THE COURT: This is, the reason
12
Judge McSorley does this which makes
13
ultimate sense is we're going to be here
14
half the morning if we're going to decide
15
among ourselves now what the --
16
MR. GOLDBERGER: That makes sense.
17
THE COURT: I'm not going to leave
18
this just unspecified.
19
MS. BELOHLAVEK: We can take care of
20
that right now if you could give us a few
21
minutes.
22
THE COURT: All right.
23
These are the standard conditions
24
that Judge McSorley normally uses. If you
25
like them, you need to circle the ones that
EFTA00594639
12
1
apply and everyone must initial them. We
2
will go over it. If you wish to change
3
you understand there is quite a bit of
4
latitude given the court in putting
5
somebody on community control. If you
6
agree to some change, let me know, but
7 ,
understand at the outset that I'm a big fan
8
of specificity. I want to know what he
9
will be doing for employment. I want to
10
know exactly where he is going to be living
11
and I want it on the record now. It can
12
change but it can only change with
13
preapproval by DOC, I want it crystal
14
clear. I don't want the community control
15
officer who gets this case the day he walks
16
out the Palm Beach County to have any doubt
17
or confusion as to exactly what this
18
defendant is supposed to do, where he is
19
supposed to be when, exactly what I am
20
requesting that officer to supervise.
21
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Absolutely.
22
THE COURT: Okay.
23
MR. GOLDBERGER: We will work on it.
24
Thank you, Your Honor.
25
THE COURT: We will recall that case.
EFTA00594640
13
•
1
(Brief recess.)
3
MR. GOIDBEadElli
Your F~onor, we are
back on Jeffrey Epstein, actually it
4
worked, we had an opportunity to go through
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Judge McSorley's conditions of community
control and we asked the Department of
Corrections representative to assist us to
make sure we did everything properly.
They were very helpful and we executed the
document.
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Yes, and Your Honor,
this defendant doesn't fall under the sex
offender probation but we have included
14
special sex offender conditions as part of
15
16
17 .
18
the community control and they are all
circled there.
THE COURT: The plea agreement stated
the defendant is designated as a sexual
19
offender pursuant to Florida Statute
20
942.035.
21
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct. But the
22
sex offender probation, the statute is
23
different and only applies to certain
24
offenses and this one was not enumerated.
25
THE COURT: Okay. I want to make
EFTA00594641
• 4
14
1
sure both I and the defendant are clear.
2
The sexual ifffelair statute you are
3
referring to in the plea sheet is the one
4
that requires registration?
5
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
6
MR. GOLDBERGER: Correct.
7
THE COURT: And we will talk about
8
that.
9
MR. GOLDBERGER: Okay.
10
THE COURT: But it is not the one
11
that requires the special conditions of sex
12
offender probation?
13
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct%
14
THE COURT: Now, rather than 948, do
15
you want me to disregard 948? He's read
16
it?
17
MS. BELOHLAVEK: He's read it.
18
THE COURT: We will leave it in
19
there. But these conditions we are going
20
to go over right now are going to be viewed
21
in my mind, yes, and they have been signed
22
by the defendant and we will go over that
23
in a second as a part of the whole plea.
24
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
25
THE COURT: So circled are
EFTA00594642
15
1
conditions, A, you will remain confined to
r .
2
__your residence except one half hour befoi.e
3
and after your approved employment,
4
community service work or any other
5
activity approved by your probation
6
officer.
•
7
B, you will maintain an hourly
8
accounting of all your activities on a
9
daily log which you will submit to your
10 .
supervising officer upon request.
11
My understanding about the daily
12
log, maybe I'm just confused from other
13
cases I've heard, is the daily log is a
14
weekly log, I guess it is submitted ahead
15
of time, is that correct?
16
PROBATION OFFICER: That is correct,
17
Your Honor.
18
THE COURT: So part A, where he has
19
to stay in his residence except for one
20
hour before and after the approved
21
employment, community service work and
22
other activity. All that's information
23
that will be recorded in writing and the
24
defendant will have a copy and he will know
25
exactly where he is supposed to be when.
EFTA00594643
16
4
1
PROBATION OFFICER: That is correct,
2
Your Honor.
3
THE COURT: As will his supervising
4
probation officer. And, then to document
5
that he's supposedly done all that he
6
himself will be keeping a daily log?
7
PROBATION OFFICER: That is correct,
8
Your Honor.
9
THE COURT: And the log form will be
10
provided by the department and he will be
11
turning that in every time he meets with
12
the probation officer?
13
PROBATION OFFICER: That is correct,
14
Your Honor.
15
THE COURT: Okay. So that applies
16
and F applies. Does E apply? No.
17
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Did I circle E?
18
THE COURT: No. F -- made one up,
19
the defendant will be residing at 358 El
20
Brillo Way, Palm Beach, Florida, 33480. He
21
knows now that that's where he will be
22
living when he is released after his 12
23
months and six months.
24
MR. GOLDBERGER: That is correct,
25
Your Honor.
EFTA00594644
17
1
THE COURT: That's a private
2
residence?
3
MR. GOLDBERGER: That is his home.
4
THE COURT: Does he own the
5
residence?
6
MR. GOLDBERGER: He does, Your Honor.
7
THE COURT: Is there any possibility
8
that he no longer owns the residence?
9
MR. GOLDBERGER: Not anticipated,
10
Your Honor.
11
THE COURT: Okay. Should he not be
12
for whatever reason -- 18-months is a long
13
time, should he not be owning that
14
residence or able to reside there, he will
15
have the obligation of notifying his
16
probation officer prior, and I emphasize
17
this, prior to his release from custody. I
18
assume that the department will be notified
19
prior to, to his release?
20
PROBATION OFFICER: That is correct,
21
Your Honor.
22
THE COURT: And then you would need
23
to send someone to meet with him before he
24
walks out of the Palm Beach County jail and
25
verify his address and employment
EFTA00594645
18
1
information?
2
PROBATION OFFICER: That is correct.
3
THE COURT: All address -- I assume
4
all of this to and from work and any other
5
6
8
9
10
11
approved activities restricts him to Palm
Beach County, is that correct?
PROBATION OFFICER: That is correct,
Your Honor.
THE COURT: So let's be clear,
everything, from the day he walks out
occurs in Palm Beach County, is that clear?
12
MR. GOLDBERGER: We understand, Your
13
Honor. That's correct.
14
THE COURT: Then the additional
15
condition of his probation, they are not
16
sex offender standard conditions, they are
17
just conditions that are being imposed
18
especially in this case?
19
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
20
THE COURT: They are as follows, you
21
shall submit to a mandatory curfew from 10
22
p.m. to 6:00 a.m. regardless of any other
23
restrictions regarding work or approved
24
activity, there will be no exceptions to
25
being at home in house from 10 p.m. to 6
EFTA00594646
19
1
a.m., is that correct?
2
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Yes.
3
THE COURT: If the victim was under
4
age of 18 years which I gather is the case
5
because it's circled, you shall not live
6
within 1000 feet of a school, day care
7
center, park, playground or other place
8
where children regularly congregate.
9
Has someone verified that 358 El
10
Brillo is such a place?
11
MS. BELOHLAVEK: No, but that will be
12
done prior to his release.
13
THE COURT: So 358 El Brillo will not
14
be.approved if it should happen to be one
15
thousand feet from a school, day care
16
center, park, playground or other place
17
this is rather open.
18
MR. GOLDBERGER: Where children
19
gather.
20
THE COURT: Where children regularly
21
congregate.
22
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Right.
23
THE COURT: The Court knows 358 El
24
Brillo Way is a residential neighborhood,
25
are there areas there where children
EFTA00594647
20
1
regularly congregate?
2
BabliaaVffir
3
know.
4
THE COURT: Neither do I, which is
5
why I'm asking. Has that been
6
investigated?
7
MR. GOLDBERGER: We have done our due
8
diligence, for what it's worth, there is a
9
residential street. There are not children
10
congregating on that street. We think the
11
address applies, if it doesn't, we fully
12
recognize that he can't live there.
13
THE COURT: Okay. D is, you shall
14
not have any contact with the victim, are
15
there more than one victim?
16
MS. BELOHLAVEK: There's several.
17
THE COURT: Several, all of the
18
victims. So this should be plural. I'm
19
making that plural. You are not to have
20
any contact direct or indirect, and in this
21
day and age I find it necessary .to go over
22
exactly what we mean by indirect. By
23
indirect, we mean no text messages, no
24
e-mail, no Face Book, no My Space, no
25
telephone calls, no voice mails, no
EFTA00594648
23.
i
1
messages through carrier pigeon, no
2-
•
mmrnerargmrs through- third partten, mortey.
3
would you tell so and so for me, no having
4
a friend, acquaintance or stranger approach
5
any of these victims with a message of any
6
sort from you, is that clear?
7
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am
8
THE COURT: And then it states,
9
unless approved by the victim, the
10
therapist and the sentencing court. Okay.
11
THE DEFENDANT: I understand.
12
THE COURT: And the sentencing court.
13
So, if there is a desire which, I would
14
think would be a bit strange to have
15
contact with any of the victims the court
16
must approve it.
17
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
18
THE COURT: If the victim was under
19
the age of 18, which was the case, you
20
shall not until you have successfully
21
attended and completed the sex offender
22
program. So, is this sex offender program
23
becoming a condition of probation?
24
MS. BELOHLAVEK: That is not. I
25
don't believe I circled that one.
EFTA00594649
22
1
THE COURT: You did.
—7 —
-MCGOLDBERZER: 111ctt
---
3
our part. Actually the statute that he is
4
pleading guilty to does not require the
5
THE COURT: I understand that, but
6
you circled it.
7
MS. BELOHLAVEK: I apologize, that
8
one is not. He has already been in
9
treatment with a private psychiatrist.
10
THE COURT: Which you find to be an
11
adequate substitute for sex offender
12
program?
13
MS. BELOHLAVEK: I -- it is not
14
required and based upon the evaluation and
15
my contact with that doctor, I don't
16
believe it's necessary at this point.
17
THE COURT: Has that been -- I assume
18
you have a law degree and do not have a
19
Ph.D in a psychology or MD in psychiatry?
20
MS. BELOHLAVEK: That is correct, I
21
don't.
22
THE COURT: So it is just your
23
judgement --
24
MS. BELOHLAVEK:
Correct.
25
THE COURT: -- that his treatment
EFTA00594650
23
1
with some fancy private psychiatrist or
-
-okay-?•
—
3
MS. BELOHLAVEK: That is correct.
4
THE COURT: So you are not imposing
S
E?
6
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
7
THE COURT: F, if the victim was
8
under the age of 18, you shall not work or
9
play or as a volunteer in any school, day
10
care center, park, play ground or other
11
place where children regularly congregate,
12
is that understood?
13
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
14
THE COURT: Children will be defined
15
as anyone under the age of 18. There are a
16
lot of places where children regularly
17
congregate. What kind of work do you do?
18
'THE DEFENDANT: Banking.
19
THE COURT: Here in Palm Beach
20
County?
21
THE DEFENDANT: Virgin Islands,
22
ma'am.
23
THE COURT: You understand you will
24
not travel from Palm Beach County for the
25
duration of this?
EFTA00594651
24
1
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
3
sorry to interrupt, we do cover the
4
employment later in the agreement as to
5
what he is going to be doing during the one
6
year that he is on community control.
7
THE COURT: Okay. And let me --
8
condition G, which is circled, unless
9
otherwise indicated in the treatment plan
10
provided by sexual offender treatment
11
program.
12
MR. GOLDBERGER: That's not in there.
13
THE COURT: Is that what you want?
14
MS. BELOHLAVEK: No.
15
THE COURT: But you do want the, you
16
will not view, own or possess any obscene
17
pornographic
18
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
19
THE COURT: Okay. But are you saying
20
that this therapist can okay him to own
21
certain pornographic material?
22
MS. BELOHLAVEK: No, not at all.
23
MR. GOLDBERGER: No, Your Honor.
24
THE COURT: Would be really helpful
25
if people read these things before they
EFTA00594652
25
1
signed them thoroughly.
3
4
5
6
virresz- arii2rwig€ i int trat tr In--
treatment plan. I'm just going to strike
out, provided by the sexual offender
treatment program. Is that what you
intend, that his therapist can
7
MS. BELOHLAVEK: No.
8
THE COURT: No?
9
MS. BELOHLAVEK: No.
10
THE COURT: Unless otherwise
11
indicated.
12
MR. GOLDBERGER: The parties have
13
agreed that during the period that he is --
14
cannot be --
15
THE COURT: Condition G will now
16
read, you shall not view, own, possess any
17
obscene, pornographic or sexually
18
stimulating visual or auditory material
19
including telephonic, electronic media,.
20
computer program or computer services that
21
are relevant to your deviant behavior
22
pattern. And who is going to enforce that?
23
MS. BELOHLAVEK: The community
24
'control officer.
1
:
25
THE COURT: How?
--
EFTA00594653
26
1
MS. BELOHLAVEK: They have the
2
-753513.ga-tion ana
3
warrantless search to check at any time his
4
home, his computer, anything he has contact
5
with.
6
THE COURT: And do they regularly do
7
that?
8
PROBATION OFFICER: Yes, ma'am.
9
10
pleasure of having someone from the
11
Department of Corrections here.
12
Okay. H, you shall submit two
13
specimens of blood to the Florida
14
Department of Law Enforcement to be
15
registered in the DNA data bank.
16
J, you shall submit to a
17
warrantless search by your probation
18
officer or community control officer of
19
your person, residence or vehicle.
20
G -- where is the G?
21
MS. BELOHLAVEK: That was under the
22
original part, not under the sex offender
23
one.
24
THE COURT: Okay. Defendant to have
25
contact with the community control officer
THE COURT: Since we have the
EFTA00594654
27
1
-2-
3
4
at a minimum one time a week.
-Detsadant to-wcox-ki-at---F-Laritin
Science Foundation, 250 Australian Avenue,
West Palm Beach, Florida. Is that
5
volunteer work or work for pay?
6
MR. GOLDBERGER: It is a 501C
7
corporation that he has formed, Your Honor,
8
that will be doing charitable work.
9
THE COURT: That he has formed?
10
MR. GOLDBERGER: Yes.
11
THE COURT: What exactly is Florida
12
Science Foundation?
13
MR. GOLDBERGER: Do you want to
14
explain?
15
THE DEFENDANT: It funds science
16
programs around the state and the country.
17
THE COURT: How long has it been in
18
existence?
19
THE DEFENDANT: Fifteen years.
'20
THE COURT: How many programs has it
21
funded?
22
THE DEFENDANT: Numerous, more than
23
50.
24
THE COURT: What is your position
25
with the organization?
EFTA00594655
28
1
THE DEFENDANT: President.
-THS- COUVIL:
directors?
4
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
5
THE COURT: Who's on the board of
6
directors?
7
THE DEFENDANT: Two attorneys.
8
THE COURT: What exactly do you do?
9
THE DEFENDANT: I'm an investment
10
banker but my --
11
THE COURT: No, no, I mean with the
12
science foundation.
13
THE DEFENDANT: We fund
14
science programs --
15
THE COURT: I don't want to know what
16
we do, I want to know what you do. How
17
often are you there?
18
THE. DEFENDANT: I'm there every day,
19
I research, I take in people who want to
20
make presentations about why they need
21
money for funding medical research,
22
advanced science research. My background
23
is in physics. I go through all the
24
programs in detail, review the science work
25
potentials, I follow through on a daily
,1
EFTA00594656
29
A
1
basis with what they have been given money
2
to do-7-
3
THE COURT: Who are some recent
4
grantees?
5
THE DEFENDANT: Harvard University.
6
There is a full program of Evolutionary
7
Dynamics, Neuro Science Institute of
8
California, the Physics Institute, MIT.
9
THE COURT: Do you ever have occasion
10
to deal with anyone under the age of
11
eighteen?
12
THE DEFENDANT: Not very often. It
13
is, if someone is in college -- sorry.
14
THE COURT: Right, that's why I'm
15
asking the question.
16
THE DEFENDANT: Most of the people I
17
fund are all usually professors.
18
THE COURT: Thank you. You
19
understand that you can't have contact with
20
anyone if -- this organization, do they
21
ever have any involvement with high
22
schools?
23
THE DEFENDANT: No, ma'am.
24
THE COURT: Students or teachers?
25
THE DEFENDANT: No, ma'am.
EFTA00594657
30
1
THE COURT: Okay.
- - -MST - B-EIDHL VNKT 'raise are
3
duplicates, you will see those are the same
4
as the ones on the previous page, however,
5
it was reproduced.
6
THE COURT: The next condition, you
7
shall maintain a driving log. You shall
8
not drive a motor vehicle while alone
9
without prior approval of your supervising
10
'officer.
11
If there was sexual contact, ydu
12
shall submit to at probationer's or
13
community controllee's expense an HIV test
14
with results to be released to the victims,
15
victim's parent or guardian -- will be
16
victims, plural. Has that been done?
17
MR. GOLDBERGER: Not yet.
18
THE COURT: Do we have a time frame
19
on that? I would think ASAP might be good
20
on something like that.
21
MS. BELOHLAVEK: I believe they can
22
actually do that at the jail.
23
THE COURT: At his expense?
24
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Yes.
25
THE COURT: I would request that that
EFTA00594658
31
1
be done within 48 hours?
2
(Tr— ale- 6; far -
3
office box without prior approval of the
4
supervising officer.
S
Okay. Are all those conditions
6
you two have agreed to?
7
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Yes, Your Honor.
8
MR. GOLDBERGER: With the court's
9
amendments, yes.
10
THE COURT: Mr. Epstein, do you
11
understand?
12
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
13
THE COURT: I need the defendant to
14
sign number D where I had an s added to
15
victim, and G, we struck out the otherwise
16
indicated language. Otherwise, it is as
17
you agreed.
18
Mr. Epstein, do you understand
19
this is a somewhat complicated terms of the
20
plea that you've agreed to?
21
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am
22
THE COURT: Do you have any questions
23
about the terms of the plea?
24
THE DEFENDANT: No.
25
THE COURT: Can I ask the State why
EFTA00594659
32
1
you choose -- or defense and the State
-t-Ugether, wily, twelve months in the -Pair
3
Beach County jail followed by six months?
4
Why not just send him to DOC?
5
MR. GOLDBERGER: It was the agreement
6
of the parties, Your Honor. We just
7
decided that was the best way to accomplish
8
what needed to be done here and the parties
9
agreed that that sentence satisfied
10
everyone's requirements.
11
THE COURT: The taxpayers of Palm
12
Beach County is going to pay 18 months to
13
house this guy instead of DOC?
14
MS. BELOHLAVER: Right.
15
THE COURT: You understand we're
16
losing positions left and right in county
17
government because we haven't got enough
18
money but you want --.okay.
19
His requirement to register there
20
is many, many -- there is nine pages
21
outlining the sexual offender's requirement
22
to register with the department and
23
penalty, have you read all thode,
24
Mr. Epstein?
25
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
EFTA00594660
33
4
1
THE COURT: Do you understand you
2
van - 5e 16741i fi re a -H.- registerMTEirt
3
be an ongoing life long obligation?
4
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
5
THE COURT: And this registration
6
occurs when?
7
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Within 48-hours of
release.
9
THE COURT: So when he gets out of
10
the Palm Beach County jail, he needs to
11
register? Okay. And the department -- who
12
is going to provide him with the form?
13
MR. GOLDBERGER: He actually
14
registers out at the Sheriff's Office, Your
15
Honor, we can do it out there.
16
THE COURT: Okay. It has been
17
brought to my attention that FDLE is the
18
one who is statutorily required to handle.
19
these registrations but some of our
20
municipal jurisdictions have taken it upon
21
themselves to impose additional
22
requirements, y'all understand that?
23
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
24
MR. GOLDBERGER: Right.
25
THE COURT: What you are telling him
EFTA00594661
34
4
1
he has to do is the official State of
-
- -
3
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Correct.
4
THE COURT: Mr. Epstein, I need to
5
make sure you understand that that's what's
6
required by this plea. Anyone on
7
probation, community control is required to
B
live and abide by the laws. So if a
9
jurisdiction you choose to reside in should
10
have some additional municipal requirements
13.
12
13
you will be required in order to comply
with the law of living there, just like you
can't get a parking ticket or speeding
14
ticket, to comply with those regulations
15
but I want to make sure you understand
16
because I have seen some defendants who
17
have been confused about this. If you
18
don't, for example, if the Town of Palm
19
Beach has you register that does not take
20
care of your requirement. Your requirement
21
to register with FDLE through the Sheriff's
22
office is separate, distinct and must be
23
done on their form according to their
24
schedule.
25
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
EFTA00594662
35
4
1
3
4
5
7
THE COURT: And if my experience the
of any value,
very serious about enforcing this. They
will be tracking you for the rest of your
life. Do not move. Do not go -- I don't
care when you are done with community
control, they need to know exactly where
8
you are and if you go anywhere without
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
registering, they will find and you will be
locked up.
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
THE COURT: Okay. Any questions
about that?
THE DEFENDANT: No, ma'am.
THE COURT: Did you read the plea in
the circuit court form that describes all
17
the rights you are giving up by entering
18
this plea?
19
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, ma'am.
20
THE COURT: I'think I asked you
21
before, can you read?
22
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
23
THE COURT: Are you under the
24
influence of alcohol, drugs or medication
25
today?
.PHYLLIS A. DAMES; OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
EFTA00594663
36
THE
DEFENDANT
No maam
THE tODRTr
Nit- fliytfl 1 t
prescribed medication
THE
DEFENDANT
Only for cholesterol
THE
COURT
Does that
interfere
with
your mental ability
THE
DEFENDANT
No
THE
COURT
Do you understand you
have
an attorney
you have
right
to trial
10
by jury
there
is not going
EFTA00594664
45
1
felony?
MS: 13 cnirAvErf —corre-c-c —ttrerr
------
3
that designates him a sexual offender.
4
THE COURT: Okay. So only on case
5
number 08 CF 009381AMB will you be on one
6
year community control which would then
7
invoke a potential penalty of fifteen years
8
were you to violate.
9
The special conditions are that
10
you are to have no unsupervised contact
11
with minors and the supervising adult must
12
be approved by the Department of
13
Corrections. You are to be designated a
14
sexual offender pursuant to Florida Statute.
15
943.0435 and you must abide by all
16
requirements of that statute which I have
17
read and we have discussed.
18
You will remain confined to your
19
residence except one half hour before and
20
after your approved employment, community
21
service work or other activities approved
22
by your probation officer. You will
23
maintain an hourly accounting of all your
24
activity on a daily log which you submit to
25
the supervising officer upon request.
EFTA00594665
46
•
I
1
You will be residing at 358 El
2-
triato- Wax7-Patm -hewahr-Ftorida- 1 -341-0.
3
Should you desire to move or go to a
4
different location upon release from
5
custody, you will get preapproval of that
6
location from the Department of
7
Corrections. You will have to contact your
8
community control officer a minimum of once
9
a week, it can be more often at their
10
discretion and you are to work at the
11
Florida Science Foundation at 250
12
Australian Avenue in West Palm Beach,
13
Florida. You will submit to a mandatory
14
curfew of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
15
You shall not live within a
16
thousand feet of a school, day care center,
17
park, playground or other place where
18
children congregate. You shall not have
19
any contact with the victims, directly or
20
indirectly including through a third person
21
unless approved by victim's therapist and
22
the sentencing court.
23
You shall not work for pay or as a
24
volunteer at any school, day care center
25
park, play ground, other place where
\
EFTA00594666
47
1
children may congregate. You shall not
3
pornographic or sexually stimulating or
4
visual, auditory material including
5
telephone, electronic media, computer
6
programs, computer services that are
7
relevant to deviant behavior.
8
You shall submit two specimens of
9
blood to Florida Department of Law
10
Enforcement to be registered with the DNA
11
data bank. You shall submit to a
12
warrantless search by the probation officer
13
or community control officer of your
14
person, residence or vehicle.
15
You shall maintain a driving log.
16
You shall not drive a motor vehicle while
17
alone without prior approval of the
18
supervising officer.
19
You shall submit to, at
20
probationer or community control expense a
21
HIV test, the result of which is to be
22
released to the victims or victim's parent
23
or guardian. That has to be done within 48
24
hours.
/
25
You shall not obtain or a use post
/
EFTA00594667
48
r -
1
office box without the prior approval of
---tire- supervising ottirer
3
MS. BELOHLAVEK: You forgot one that
4
you may not possess, own or view sexually
5
stimulating -- I don't believe you read
6
that outloud just now.
7
THE COURT: Yes, I did.
8
MS. BELOHLAVEK: I'm .sorry, I didn't
hear it. I just wanted to make sure.
10
THE COURT: And the warrantless
11
search by the community control officer of
12
the person, residence or vehicle --
13
understand the person, residence or vehicle
14
includes anything you might possess like
15
computer, a cell phone and whatever other
16
elaborate devices there are to communicate
17
electronically these days, okay. Good
18
luck.
19
MR. GOLDBERGER: Thank you.
20
MS. BELOHLAVEK: Thank you.
21
THE COURT: Is there a judgment?
22
MR. GOLDBERGER: Yes, there should, be
23
judgments.
24
THE COURT: Was there a condition of
25
community control that he pay or is he
EFTA00594668
49
• (I
I
1
paying it?
3
cash bond posted, court cost can be
4
deducted from the cash bond.
5
THE COURT: $574 is the total?
6
MS. BELOHLAVEK:
Correct.
7
THE COURT: Is that to cover both
8
cases?
9
MR. GOLDBERGER: Yes.
10
THE COURT: Thank you.
11
MR. GOLDBERGER: Thank you, Your
12
Honor.
13
(Whereupon, at 9:48 o'clock a.m. the
14
proceedings before the Court, concluded.)
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
EFTA00594669
50
1
C E R T I F I C A T E
2
3
4
5
I, PHYLLIS A. DAMES, Official Court
6
Reporter for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit,
7
Criminal Division, in and for Palm Beach County,
8
Florida; do hereby certify that I was authorized
9
to and did report the foregoing proceedings before
10
the Court at the time and place aforesaid; and
11
that the preceding pages numbered from 1 through 49,
12
inclusive, represent a true and accurate
13
transcription of my stenonotes taken at said
14
proceedings.
15
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto
16
affixed my official signature this 19th
day of
17
July, 2008.
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
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