Police chief in Parker case gets jail time

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- An Ohio ex-police chief was sentenced to 32 months in prison for breaking into the home of the surrogate mother pregnant with Sarah Jessica Parker's twins.

Barry P. Carpenter was convicted last month of receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence and theft in office. He was, however, acquitted of burglary charges.

Prosecutors said Carpenter -- who was at the time of the incident the police chief of Martins Ferry -- and two other men worked together to remove items from the woman's home with the intention of selling them to tabloid newspapers interested in the "Sex and the City" star and her husband, actor Matthew Broderick.

The surrogate gave birth to the couple's twin daughters last June.

"Your attorney began this trial by saying what you did may have been stupid but it wasn't criminal," The New York Times quoted Belmont County Judge John M. Solovan as telling Carpenter Wednesday. "I disagree. It was stupid, and it was criminal."

The Times said Carpenter plans to appeal the sentence.