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Received: 07/26/17 1/25/08 _ 81)23/2808 15:86 8:40AM; 5616464426 5616404420 * 20A THEPALMBEACH POST ® -> STATE ATTY OFC; Page 3 PAGE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2007 The Palm Beach Post TOM GIUEFRIDA, Publisher JOHN BARTOSEK, Feitor BILL ROSE. Managing fditar CHARLES GERARDI, General Manager RANDY SCHULSZ. Editor of the Editorial Page JAN TUCKWOOD), Associate Editar BARRY BER, VP Cireulehon JOHN KELLY, VP Advertising LINDA MURPHY. VP Yuman Resources LARRY SIF Di il, VP & Treasurer GALE HOWDEN, VP ( osranunity Relations and Marketiny BOB 4ALFE. VP Operations LAURA DECK CUNNINGHAM. Director Marketing Services DAN SHORTER. General Manager, P'a'mieachPost.com How will system judge Palm Beach We soon will find out whether big money can buy from the crimi- nal justice system what everyone assumes that big money can buy. The penalty news reports say parttime Palm Beach resident Jeffrey Epstein is expected to face suggests that he will plead guilty to something more than one felony count for solicitation of prostitution. A Palm Beach County grand jury indicted the Manhattan money manager on that charge in July 2006. But a guilty plea that does not recognize the age of the girls whom police say the billionaire paid for sex would be a disservice to the girls, an insult to the investigators who pressed the case and, lor good measure, a general outrage. Palm Beach police have said that Jeffrey Epstein, 54, paid underage girls, one as young as 14, to come ta his 7.200-square-foot waterfront home for “massage” sessions. Police said interviews with five alleged victims and 17 witnesses under oath, phone messages, a high school transcript and other items they found in Mr Epstein's trash and. home show that he knew how young the girls were. But after Mr. Epstein’ attorneys told prosecutors about the girls’ MySpace pages, which mentionec| marijuana and alcohol use, State Attorney Barry Krischer sent the case to a grand jury, instead of filine charges himself. Blaming these victims, however, does not make them any ruore de- serving of what happened. And Mr. Krischer’s unnecessary handoff to a grand jury, after_an J1-month police investigalid FIMGPROAM reinforced predator: Jeftrey Epstein case comes to turning point. ee ere the public understanding tha the more money the accused hes. the bigger the break he gels. Mr Epsteins legal team includes Wes Palm Beach defense attorney Jact. Goldberger, Harvard Law Schoo Professor Alan Dershowitz. wh« worked on the O.J. Simpson murde) case, and Kenneth Starr, who once pursue! a president based on tis lies abou! sex with young women. Federal authorities also sleppec in, which stalled the states case for another year On Nov, 9, citings an unnamed source close to Jeftrey Epstein, Jose Lambiet of The Pos! wrote thai the feceral investigation is over, and Mr. Epstein is expected to serve ip to 18 months and could be labele:: a sex offender in crtmi- nal records. The charge the grazl jury returned more than a year ago carries a uiaximum five-year prisc1) term and no “sex offender” label. “This case,” Mr. Goldberger tow Mr. Lambiet, “is absolutely going 1 end without a trial within the nex: two months.” State attorney spokcs- man Michael Edmondson wonis not confirm any plea deal. Bu, be noted: “The state attorney's har ; are not tivd by there being a sing} grand wry charge. That does nui preclude additional charges.” Jeffrey Epstein, like too many men in Fiorida, preyed on teenaged girls. The svstem should not let |i buv RPL RPRRER FRIAS 17-28 83 | ¢h aroun Pala VP heli-eil slor27s Newe'j Rev Lil gic Wil inorth. teniion Ell: Srar ers of 1 by ous the gun beret iti word, = thaw DOJ-OGR- 00031398