Garrido decides to plead not guilty in Dugard case
By Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee
In a surprise move today, Phillip Garrido entered a not guilty plea to charges that he kidnapped Jaycee Lee Dugard.
His wife Nancy entered the same not guilty plea after the judge indicated there were irregularities in the grand jury process that indicted the couple in September.
Stephen Tapson, Nancy Garrido’s attorney, said the plan earlier this week was for Phillip Garrido to plead guilty but that a last minute hitch over the manner in which the grand jury selection was handled prompted the decision to plead not guilty.
Tapson would not elaborate on the problem, but said the matter arose when Phillip Garrido’s attorney Susan Gellman brought the issue to his attention Wednesday night.
El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson confirmed that there was a issue raised in the manner in which the grand jurors were selected, but said such claims are common and he expected the matter to be dismissed.