Man accused of luring woman with free iPod goes on trial

Tag : stocking cap

Attorneys showed 28-year-old Gretchan Heller of Boise an aerial mapof McDevitt Park, the place where she came face-to-face with theman who had lured her using an ad on Craigslist.
It all began on July 27, 2007, when Boise Police say they receiveda phone call about a suspicious vehicle in a west Boise park.
Investigators say Newman had made an online posting for a free pinkiPod.
Heller responded to the ad and Newman told her she would find theiPod in a port-o-potty at the park.
Newman told Heller the iPod was his wife's and he was giving itaway to get back at her for cheating on him.
Heller told a jury Monday that she thought the ad was suspicious soshe came with her husband.
"This is too creepy honey, this is really really weird. Ijust can't believe some one is giving away a free iPod. It justdoesn't seem legit," said Heller.
When she arrived Heller spotted Newman’s red SUV next to theport-o-potty.
Newman turned off his lights so she and her husband left and thencalled police.
When police arrived they found Newman wearing a black stocking capand ski gloves. He also had in his possession a bb gun, a knifeand a laptop computer.
Newman told police that the knife was being used to open the pelletgun and the cap was to cover up his messy hair.
He was originally charged with having a concealed weapon and beingin a public park after dark.
Newman’s trial will continue today.