A former Los Angeles
police sergeant charged in a federal wiretapping case
testified Friday that he ran names through criminal
databases for an indicted private eye but didn't
accept bribes for the work.
Anthony Pellicano still faces more than 35 other
counts at his federal wiretapping trial.
Defendant Mark Arneson said he knew accessing people's
private information was improper but thought it would
bring only minor punishment, such as a reprimand.
"Yes, I crossed the line," Arneson said.
Arneson is accused of taking bribes in excess of
$180,000 as part of a scheme orchestrated by private
eye Anthony Pellicano that used clandestine tactics to
dig up dirt to aid clients in legal and other
disputes.
All five co-defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Arneson testified that the money he received from
Pellicano was for off-duty security work that included
escorting stars to award shows and conducting
surveillance.
"The payments you received were never in connection"
with running names in databases, his defense attorney,
Chad Hummel, said during questioning.
"That's correct," Arneson replied.
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Arneson said Pellicano didn't tell him why he wanted
the names run through the databases, or how the
information would be used.
In some cases, Pellicano had information before the
data was accessed, Arneson said.
"I was affirming information he already had," Arneson
testified. "I was eliminating his legwork."
Earlier in the day, an FBI agent testified that he was
unable to decrypt some audio files seized during raids
on the offices of Pellicano that began in November
2002.
Agent Donald Schmidt was the only witness called by
Pellicano, who is acting as his own attorney.
Pellicano reserved the right to testify on his own
behalf later in the trial.
Lawyers for the other defendants also had cases to
present.
Pellicano questioned Schmidt, an Internet technology
specialist, for about an hour. The agent testified
that he was instructed to look for calls that had been
wiretapped among the recordings.
He said he was unable to listen to some of the
encrypted calls.
"Did you find any evidence of wiretaps?" Pellicano
asked.
"I found what sounded like telephone recordings,"
Schmidt replied.
During the trial, prosecutors played at least six
recordings of calls between Pellicano and clients but
only one tape they characterized as a wiretap.
