Arraignment Slated For Ex-Con Accused of Murdering Aspiring
Arraignment Slated For Ex-Con Accused of Murdering Aspiring Actress
Attorney Says Client Maintains Innocence
POSTED: 6:50 a.m. PDT June 11, 2003
LOS ANGELES -- An ex-con accused of luring an aspiring actress to her death on a promise of using her in a photo shoot and dumping her body in the Hollywood Hills is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on murder charges. Victor Lawrence Paleologus, 40, of Los Angeles, has been held without bail on a capital murder charge in the slaying of 21-year-old Kristine Johnson. He also faces the special circumstance allegations of lying in wait and murder during the commission of an attempted rape.
After a May 29 hearing, defense attorney Andrew Flier told reporters his client is "adamant about his innocence."
"He feels that, based on his past, that a lot of information has hurt him with respect to the investigation and the development of charges on this case," the attorney said. "He is adamant that he is 100 percent not guilty of doing anything to the young lady in question."
Prosecutors have yet to announce whether they will seek the death penalty for Paleologus, who allegedly killed Johnson around or on Feb. 15, according to the criminal complaint filed May 12.
Johnson disappeared after meeting a man who told her he wanted to use her in a photo shoot. Hikers found her body March 9 at the bottom of a ravine on Skyline Drive in the Hollywood Hills. She was partially clad in hose and underwear and her hands were bound.
The body, found in a sleeping bag, apparently had been at the location for some time. Investigators believe she was killed elsewhere, but have not disclosed how the part-time Santa Monica College student is believed to have died.
Paleologus, who emerged as the prime suspect in the case shortly after Johnson's body was found, was twice convicted of coaxing women to come with him, using lies about potential acting jobs, according to Santa Monica police Chief James Butts Jr.
Investigators closed in on Paleologus after being contacted by a woman who said she was lured to a corner in West Hollywood for a photo shoot related to a specific movie production in late January.
She brought along her boyfriend, who chased the man after his actions alarmed the young woman. The couple later "positively identified him as the person they described in the composite," Butts said, adding that the suspect lived within two blocks of the intersection where he met the woman in January.
He had been convicted before of crimes against women "lured to the location of the crime under the pretext of photographing them for publicity photos related to entertainment productions," according to Butts.
"In one of the crimes, he stated that he was shooting photos for the same specific movie production that he mentioned to both the witness and to Kristi Johnson," Butts said.
He also said Johnson "was wearing an article of specific apparel that this subject asked both the female from January and Kristi to wear for their purported photo shoots."
Police also have evidence that establishes the man's presence in the Century City Shopping Center on Feb. 15, the day Johnson disappeared after meeting a man who told her he wanted to use her in a photo shoot, Butts has said.
Johnson's Mazda Miata was dropped off the next day at the valet area of the St. Regis hotel, which is down the street from the mall.
Paleologus had already been charged after his Feb. 17 arrest with a theft case in Beverly Hills Superior Court involving one count each of identity theft, filing a false financial statement, burglary, grand theft auto, forgery and receiving stolen property.
The criminal complaint alleges that Paleologus has six prior convictions on various felony counts.
Re: Arraignment Slated For Ex-Con Accused of Murdering Aspir
you know whats odd, is that this guy looks NOTHING like the sketch that they released. I hope they dont send the wrong dude to jail, just bc he has a criminal past.
Re: Arraignment Slated For Ex-Con Accused of Murdering Aspir
seriously-- I'm not convinced with this info they've provided... and how can they not know how she was killed? That's what is getting me,... maybe that will help them somehow...
not satisfied, the person who did this needs help-- and if he's not the right guy it could happen again.
Re: Arraignment Slated For Ex-Con Accused of Murdering Aspir
sheeit, sounds like homeboy needs to be locked down anyway....i mean...
-J-
*******************
Paleologus, who emerged as the prime suspect in the case shortly after Johnson's body was found, was twice convicted of coaxing women to come with him, using lies about potential acting jobs, according to Santa Monica police Chief James Butts Jr.
*********************
Re: Arraignment Slated For Ex-Con Accused of Murdering Aspir
he was identified by another woman and her ex cop boyfriend who were lured to a photo shoot for the same movie or production that kristy was also asked to try out for, kristy was found dead with the same article of clothing on that this looser asked the girl from two weeks before to wear. this was no coincidence. he was identified by these two people along with a third, the valet attendant whom he threw the keys to and said "here you go", at least i assume so, they are pretty tight lipped. I hope whomever was in this guys parole board that let him back out get fired and have bad dreams for not paying enough attention to this loosers profile. Damn system doesnt work.
Re: Arraignment Slated For Ex-Con Accused of Murdering Aspir
BTW the only reason I get all the news is because I am addicted to reading like four or five news websites all day every day ever since september 11th. BARF
Re: Arraignment Slated For Ex-Con Accused of Murdering Aspir
some more, the jerk is trying to plead not guilty, hope he gets the chair!
LOS ANGELES (AP) An ex-convict pleaded innocent Wednesday to murdering a 21-year-old aspiring actress that he allegedly lured with a phony photo shoot.
Victor Lawrence Paleologus, 40, of Los Angeles entered the plea through his attorney in Superior Court while he stood behind a glass wall. A June 23 preliminary hearing was set to determine if there is enough evidence try him.
``But for my client's past, I don't think he would be here,'' attorney Andrew Flier said outside the courtroom. ``I feel very confident that my client is going to be acquitted of these charges.''
Paleologus has a criminal record dating back to 1998, including felony convictions for burglary, grand theft, fraud, battery, and assault with attempt to commit rape. In several cases, officials have said, he was accused of luring women to locations on the pretense of photographing them for publicity stills for entertainment productions.
He is charged with murdering Kristine Johnson, a Santa Monica resident and part-time Santa Monica College student who vanished on Feb. 15.
Hikers found Johnson's body on March 9 in a ravine in the Hollywood Hills. She was wearing stockings and underwear and her hands were bound, police said at the time. The cause of her death has not been released.
The charge includes special circumstance allegations of lying in wait and murder during the commission of attempted rape, which could make Paleologus eligible for execution. If convicted, it would be Paleologus' third strike, making him eligible for life in prison without parole.
Prosecutors have not yet said whether they would seek the death penalty.
I hope they dont send the wrong dude to jail, just bc he has a criminal past.
