New York, NY, Jun. 10--An ink expert who testified for the government in Martha Stewart's obstruction-of-justice trial was indicted by a federal grand jury in New York on perjury charges.
The two-count indictment mirrors criminal charges filed last month by prosecutors in New York against Larry F. Stewart, laboratory director for the U.S. Secret Service. He is accused of lying when he testified that he personally participated in an ink analysis of a worksheet detailing the homemaking entrepreneur's portfolio.
Martha Stewart, founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, plans to file a motion for a new trial this week based on the perjury charges, her lawyers have said. A federal judge delayed her sentencing date by about three weeks to July 8 to consider the request.
Martha Stewart and her former broker Peter Bacanovic were convicted in March of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and other charges related to her controversial 2001 sale of ImClone Systems Inc. stock.
The jury ultimately acquitted Bacanovic on making false documents--the basis of Mr. Stewart's testimony.
Judith Wheat, a lawyer for Mr. Stewart, said, "He stands behind his work, and he stands behind his testimony." Mr. Stewart, who isn't related to Ms. Stewart, will plead not guilty when he is arraigned Wednesday, she said. The ink expert faces as long as five years in prison plus fines of as much as $250,000 if convicted on each count.
