LOS ANGELES (AP) A Los Angeles police captain pleaded no
contest to charges of selling counterfeit movie DVDs, authorities
said.
Suspended Capt. Julie D. Nelson, a 28-year veteran, entered her
plea Friday. Because Superior Court Judge Robert Fitzgerald reduced
her piracy charges to misdemeanors, she might keep her job and
pension.
Nelson, 52, of the Orange County city of La Palma, was arrested
Dec. 9 after investigators allegedly recovered hundreds of pirated
DVDs in her home, car and office.
Authorities have claimed her boyfriend, Edward Monroy, produced
thousands of movies in his Torrance apartment but have not filed
charges against him.
In reducing the charges, the judge agreed with Nelson's defense
attorney that she played a minor role in the alleged bootleg
operation.
Nelson had faced a possible prison sentence of seven years if
convicted of three felonies of possessing and selling counterfeit
DVDs. She instead faces a year in jail for each of the misdemeanor
counts, though attorneys said she will likely be sentenced to
community service.
Nelson could also receive fines including investigation costs to
the Motion Picture Association of America's anti-piracy office.
Nelson was transferred to Hollywood last year after serving as
Harbor station commander until police Chief William Bratton demoted
her.
Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)