LOS ANGELES -- Robert K. Steinberg, who created a national stir by claiming he viewed videotapes depicting Reagan administration officials at sex orgies, has been indicted -- apparently for falsely reporting the tapes' theft.
Steinberg was ordered by the County Grand Jury to surrender for arraignment in Beverly Hills Municipal Court Aug. 24, when the secret indictment will be disclosed, Steinberg's attorney, Leonard Levine, said Wednesday.
The exact charges contained in the indictment will not be known until then. Under California law, a grand jury indictment must remain sealed until the defendant surrenders for arraignment.
'I know it's for a misdemeanor,' Levine said. 'I can only assume that based on the investigation, the charges are most likely filing a false police report.
'I'm a little surprised, but not shocked.'
Levine said he had informed Steinberg of the development and his client 'took it calmly.'
Filing a false police report carries a maximum punishment of six months in the county jail.
Steinberg created a national clamor July 11 when he told reporters he saw three videotapes depicting the late Alfred Bloomingdale -- a business magnate and member of President Reagan's 'kitchen Cabinet' - cavorting at 'sex parties' with his mistress, Vicki Morgan, and unnamed public officials.
The next day, after prosecutors asked that the tapes be turned over as possible evidence in Miss Morgan's July 7 slaying, Steinberg reported they had been stolen from his Beverly Hills office.
At the urging of prosecutors, Steinberg filed a theft report with Beverly Hills police, who later claimed the report was false and asked the District Attorney's Office to charge Steinberg with filing a false theft report.
Prosecutors then sought the grand jury probe, which began Monday and included testimony by several news reporters as well as those directly involved in the case.
Miss Morgan was bludgeoned to death with a baseball in her rented North Hollywood condominium.
Her roommate, Marvin Pancoast, who reportedly confessed killing the one-time fashion model, has pleaded innocent to murder charges and faces an upcoming trial.
Steinberg repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when questioned about the tapes at Pancoast's preliminary hearing.
