Judge won’t bar tapes from sexual assault trial

Erica D. Johnson

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2003 | 9:21 a.m.

Tapes of phone calls made from prison by the alleged rapist of a 14-year-old girl as well as his videotape of the alleged assault will not be excluded before the start of the man's trial, a District Court judge ruled Tuesday.

Steven Newberg, 37, is charged with sexually assaulting the teen, his relative. His defense attorney wanted District Judge Michael Cherry to bar the tapes and recordings of phone calls Newberg made from jail, allegedly asking family members to pressure the girl not to testify.

"I'm not going to grant any type of suppression now. "If it comes up at trial I'll take a look at it," Cherry said, denying the motions without prejudice.

Jury selection in Newberg's trial was expected to begin Tuesday, but Deputy Public Defender Steve Immerman said he needed more time to review the tapes.

The trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 21.

Newberg faces charges that include kidnapping, sexual assault with a deadly weapon, using a minor in producing pornography and sexual assault of a minor.

Prosecutors allege Newberg videotaped himself having sex with the girl.

Police also say they obtained a search warrant for Newberg's home and pickup truck and seized homemade pornographic videotapes they said show dozens of women being beaten, choked and sexually assaulted by Newberg.