[CPProt.net] Theft of rare books from library on Transylvania campus detailed

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Wednesday, October 12, 2005
 
Theft of rare books from library on Transylvania campus detailed 
Library targeted at Transylvania 

Associated Press


LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Newly released court documents outline an elaborate scheme
by four college students who stole rare books from the Transylvania
University Library. 

Eric Borsuk, Warren C. Lipka, Charles Allen II and Spencer Reinhard stole
works that included a manuscript of Charles Darwin's "The Origin of Species"
from the special-collections library at Transylvania on Dec. 17. 

An e-mail address used to set up appointments with Transylvania librarians
and Christie's auction house, where the men tried to sell the books, led to
their arrests in February. 

The four pleaded guilty to robbery and other charges in March and will be
sentenced Dec. 6. 

In the documents filed Friday, prosecutors say Reinhard, Allen and Borsuk
should receive 11 to 14 years in prison. Lipka, whom they describe as the
ringleader, should receive 14 to 17 years, prosecutors said. 

The documents show the men used color-coded nicknames -- "Mr. Black," "Mr.
Green," "Mr. Pink" and "Mr. Yellow" -- inspired by the 1992 movie "Reservoir
Dogs." The film was about a botched robbery. 

One of the documents lists three phases of the robbery and points of
concern, including how to obtain the "GTAV" (Get to and Away Vehicle), where
to put the "loot," and in capital letters: "DISGUISE!" 

"This document shows a meticulous plan, which apparently was continually
revised up until the day of the robbery," Assistant U.S. Attorney David
Marye wrote in the sentencing recommendation. 

Prosecutors also suggest that the men were going to rob the Transylvania
library Dec. 16, when "Walter Beckman" -- now known to be Lipka -- set up an
initial appointment to see some of the collection. 

"They went to Transylvania University library dressed up in various costumes
which appeared to be something one would wear if they were performing in a
play," Marye wrote. 

For unknown reasons, that attempt was called off. 

But just before noon on Dec. 17, Lipka, again posing as Beckman, went to
special collections section and later let in Borsuk. 

Lipka used what prosecutors think was a stun gun on librarian B.J. Gooch.
Borsuk tied her feet and Lipka pulled a stocking cap over her head. 

The two left on an elevator, which they had difficulty operating, according
to documents. 

A librarian who heard the elevator making strange noises saw Lipka and
Borsuk get off with books she knew should have stayed in special
collections. 

When the librarian went there and found Gooch, she alerted another librarian
to stop the men. The men left several books by the exit that they say were
too heavy. 

Prosecutors and defense lawyers disagree over the value of the items stolen
and whether the sentence should take into account items that the men
ultimately left behind. 

Under federal sentencing guidelines, the value of what was stolen and the
type of force used are factors in how much time a defendant receives. 

Defense lawyers also argue that a stun pen -- which is smaller than a stun
gun and delivers less of a shock -- was used to subdue the librarian. 

Prosecutors question whether the stun pen exists. During a search of the
home shared by Allen, Borsuk and Lipka, officers found stun guns but no stun
pens, according to documents. 


http://www.courier-journal.com/