Related To Story SLIDESHOW HARDY DRAMA
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Debbie Hardy's Husband Accused Of Stealing Diamonds, Wedding Ring From Mansion
UPDATED: 5:53 pm EST November 27,
2007
WEST NEWTON, Pa. -- Paul Ucman, the estranged husband of lumber millionaire Joe Hardy's ex-wife Debbie, is back in court on Tuesday, and prosecutors say they have a tape that shows Debbie's jewelry being stolen.
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Debbie Hardy-Ucman claims Paul Ucman still hasn't returned a $15,000 Louis Vuitton purse that she said was stolen along with $5 million worth of jewelry and diamonds from her Rostraver Township mansion.
At a preliminary hearing on Tuesday morning, Hardy-Ucman testified that she and Ucman were the only ones who knew the security codes to get to the diamonds.She also said that a $500,000 wedding ring that Joe Hardy bought for her was among the items taken, and that Ucman tried to hold the jewelry ransom to get their four-wheelers and trucks.Prosecutors said they have a digital tape of surveillance video that shows Ucman taking the jewelry. However, the tape could not be viewed at Tuesday's hearing because the court was unable to play it.Defense attorneys said that they believe a mystery intruder stole the jewelry, and that it was never investigated because Hardy-Ucman gets special treatment from local police.But police said there were no signs of forced entry to the vault."He and I are on the only ones that had the access codes to the safe," said Hardy-Ucman.A plea deal for six months of probation was offered, but Ucman rejected, so a judge ordered him to stand trial on felony burglary charges at a later date. Ucman remains free on bond.Outside the courtroom, Hardy-Ucman said her husband won't sign divorce papers that were filed months ago and she feels like she's being "blackmailed.""I filed for divorce in May," said Hardy-Ucman. "I'm the only one that filed, and so far, he hasn't signed the complaint."The diamonds have been returned, but the handmade case -- one of only a few in existence -- is still missing, according to Hardy-Ucman."That particular Louis Vuitton case was one of five bags made in the entire country, and it did have jewelry in it, purchased by my ex-husband and a Christmas present for me," she said last week.Defense attorney James Jefferies said he would try to argue that a husband could not be charged with stealing from his wife.Hardy-Ucman's attorney said he would make the claim that the marriage was over when Ucman allegedly walked out with the jewels.Ucman has been asking to come back, sending cards and leaving voice mails, according to Hardy-Ucman.Earlier this month, she spoke about domestic abuse on the television show "Inside Edition" and claimed Ucman beat her so badly that she went to a hospital.Ucman denied the accusation and was never charged with hitting his wife, but a judge ordered him not to have any contact with her for three years.In May, Hardy-Ucman accused Ucman of ramming her car and throwing a steel frying pan through her kitchen window. The case was dropped when she refused to testify against him.Hardy-Ucman's first husband was Joe Hardy, the founder of 84 Lumber. After they split, she married Ucman, who was a gardener at Joe Hardy's other business, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County.
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Debbie Hardy-Ucman claims Paul Ucman still hasn't returned a $15,000 Louis Vuitton purse that she said was stolen along with $5 million worth of jewelry and diamonds from her Rostraver Township mansion.
Previous Stories:
- November 8, 2007: More Divorce Drama: PFA Charge Dropped Against Husband Of Millionaire Hardy's Ex
- October 30, 2007: After Divorce, 84 Lumber's Joe Hardy Rebounds With 22-Year-Old
- October 29, 2007: Husband Of Joe Hardy's Ex Dishes Out Dirt After Hearing
- October 25, 2007: Husband Of Joe Hardy's Ex Turns Self Amid Theft Accusation
- October 17, 2007: 84 Lumber Millionaire Joe Hardy's Ex Files PFA Against New Husband
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