THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2008

THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2008 PAGE 3 Palm Beach billionaire with ties to VI pleads guilty in prostitution case (Editors Note: its ankle tans cep- lordly published in the Pnbri heath Post on Monday. June 30. Jaffrey 4s/eta mins LadeSt.James Island off the coast of St. Thomas and mnploged first lady Cm*: de Jonah as director of his charitable J. Epstein Virgin Islands fbi endation.1 RY LARRY KEI.I.ER Palm Beach Post WEST PALM BEACH — He Ines in a Palm Beach waterfmnt man- sion and has kept company with the likes of Presklent Bill Clinton. PrinceAndrew and Donald Trump, but investment banker Jeffrey Epstein will call the Palm Beach County jail home for the next IS months. Epstein. 55. pleaded guilty this morning to felony solicitation of prostitution and procuring a per- son under the age of Ili for pros- titution. After nerving IS months in jail, he will be under house arrest for a year. And hr will now have n long obligation to register as a sex offender. He must submit to an HIV test within 48 hours, with the results bring pmvided to his vic- tims or their parents. As part of the plea deal. federal -investigators agreed to drop their • Footling Investigation of Epstein. . which they hail taken to a grand • jury. two law enforcement sources said. Epstein was indicted two years ago following an I I -month Imes- figalion by Palm Beach pollee after they received a comp Ldni from the relative of a 14-year-old girl who • had given him a naked massage at his five-bedroora 7.234-square- fool. 98.5 million Intracoastal home. Epstein Police concluded that there were several other young gain brought in 2004 and 2005 to an upstairs room at the home for similar massages and sexual touching. The Indictment charged Epstein only with felony solicitation of pros- titution. The state attorney's office later added the additional charge of procuring unftemge girls for that purpose. Prosecutor Lanna fielohlavek said of the plea: 1 took into con- sideration the length the trial would have been and witnesses having to testify- about sometimes embar- rassing Incidents. Epstein may have made a seri- ous mistake soon after he was charged. He was offered and accepted. then rejected, an offer to plead guilty to one count of aggravated assault with Intent to commit a felony. aosding to police documents. Ile woukl have gotten five years probation. had no alm- inal record and not been a regis- tered sex offender, the documents indicate. Epstein arrived In court today with at least three attorneys. He wore a blue blazer, blue jeans and white and gray sneakers. After Cir- cuit Judge Deborah Dale Purillo accepted the plea. he was finger- printed. Epstein then removed his coat and was handcuffed for the trip to jail while his attorneys Idol to shield him from photographers lenses. When he eventually is released. Epstein will haVe to comply with numerous conditions of his house arrest. They Include observing a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.curfew. having no unsupervised contact with any- body under the age of 18 and not owning or possessing pornographic or sexual materials that are rele- vant to your deviant behmior," the judge said. He also will not be allowed to drive alone wIthout his probation officers permission. or volunteer anyplace where children may con- gregate. such as a school or a park. Epstein will be allowed to leave home for work. The New York- based money manager told the judge he has formed the not for profit Florida Science Foundation to finance scientific research. -rrn there every day? Epstein said The foundation was Incorporat- ed In November and lists its address as Goldberger, Nest Palm Beach office. Epstein said he already has awarded money to Ito- rartfand MIT. When he Is released from jail. there Is a chance that Epstein will be forted to mow. Sex ofkik,tas are not allowed to live within 1.000 feet of a wheel, park or other arms where children may gather. No determination has been made as to whether Epstein's home complies. but attorneys said It likely does. Sex offenders also typically must attend counseling sessions. Belohlmek saki that was waived for Epstein because his private psy- chiatrist is working with him. Judge Neill° was skeptical, but agreed to It. Epstein's conduct with under- age girls doesn't end with today's plea. There are four pending federal civil lawsuits and one In state court related to his behavior. At least one woman has sued him In New York• where he owns a 51.000 square-foot Manhattan mansion. 'We think this Is an extremely Important event that will help the civil cases: said Miami attorney Jeffrey Herman. who represents the alleged victims in the federal lawsuits. it's validation of that we're saying In the chit cases? Viltst Palm Beach attorney Ted Leopaki represents one alleged vic- tim in a civil suit in state Oatilrt He said he anticipates amending that lawsuit to add •a few other clients- as well. In the criminal case• police went so far as to scour Epstein's trash and conduct surveillance at Palm Beach Intemalimml Airport. where they watched for his private jet so they would know when he was In town. They concluded that Epstein paid girls 3200 to $300 each after the massage sessions. -I'm like a Heidi Fleiss• now• 22. told police IIIIMIS-ts in recruiting teenage girls for Epstein. There was probable cause to charge Epstein with unlawful sex acts with a minor and lewd and lascivious molestation. police con- cluded. They also wanted charges brought against Robson and a woman who was Emdeln's per- sonal assistant. They were not charged. The state attorneys office said that questions about the girls' credibility led It to take the unprecedented step of presenting the evidence against Epstein to a grand jury, rather than directly charging him. Palm Beach Polk". Chief Michael Reiter was furious with State Attorney Barry Krischer. saying In a May 2006 letter that the pros- ecutor Should disqualify himself. 1 continue to find your offices treatment of these cases highly unusual? he unite. lie then asked for and got a federal Investiga- tion. Ile did not *tum a °Mask- ing for comment. Epstein hired a phalanx of high- priced lawyers — Including Har- vard law professor and author Alan Dershowitz - and public rela- tions people who quell toned Bett- ers competence and the victims' truthfulness. In addition to mansions in Palm Bench and Manhattan. Epstein owns homes in New Mexico and the Virgin Islands. lie's a frequent contributor to Democratic Party candklates. He also donated $30 million to Harvard University in 2003. Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer returned a S50,000 cam- paign contribution from Epstein alter his indictment. then resigned this year amidst his own sex scan- dal: And the same Palm Beach Police Department that vigorous- lv investigated Epstein returned his 890,000 donation for the pur- chase of a ftrerms simulator. EFTA01221800