Debra Hardy's husband guilty of $5 million theft
The estranged husband of Debra Hardy was convicted Monday of stealing more than $5 million in jewelry from his wife's Rostraver mansion built by her first husband, lumber magnate Joe Hardy.
After a nonjury trial yesterday, Westmoreland County Judge Richard E. McCormick Jr. convicted Paul K. Ucman of a felony theft offense and a related charge of receiving stolen property.
Ucman, 45, was charged with breaking into a safe near the bedroom he shared during his marriage to Debra Hardy, the second wife of 84 Lumber founder Joe Hardy.
Police said Ucman attempted to thwart a video surveillance camera above the jewelry vault, used a code to enter the secured room and pilfered about 500 pieces of jewelry, including an engagement ring valued at more than $355,000.
"Only two people had access to the vaults -- Debra Hardy and Paul Ucman," McCormick said. He noted that Ucman, in a telephone call to Hardy, tried to leverage the stolen jewelry for a boat, ski mobiles and other sports equipment.
Debra Hardy testified yesterday that only she and Ucman had the codes to enter the vaults and safes that held the jewelry. Hardy said she left her home on Sept. 28, 2007, to get treatment at a hospital for a leg injury she sustained the night before during a physical confrontation with Ucman.
Police suspect that Ucman took the jewelry during the two hours that Hardy was out of the home.
Video from a surveillance camera over the vault door was seized by police but was damaged before the trial. McCormick barred the video from being used as evidence.
Rostraver police Officer Richard Beranek previously testified the video showed Ucman at the vault door before the camera lens was blocked. Beranek said yesterday the lens was covered by a substance he believed to be petroleum jelly.
Debra Hardy discovered that the jewelry was missing several days after she went to the hospital. She testified yesterday that Ucman then called her with an offer.
"My husband said he had the jewelry and that he would throw it in the river if I called the police. He wanted a boat and other stuff in exchange for the jewelry," Hardy testified.
She called police on Oct. 1, and made an official report about the missing jewelry two days later.
The jewelry was returned to her in October by the father of Ucman's former wife, who testified yesterday he was given a canvas bag with the valuables and directed to give them back to Hardy.
Frank DeRosa yesterday refused to identify who gave him the jewels.
Hardy testified that one of the returned items was Ucman's wedding ring, which was not taken in the heist.
Defense attorney James Jeffries argued there was not enough evidence to link Ucman to the stolen jewels and suggested criminal court was not the proper venue for the case.
"This is a divorce matter," Jeffries said.
Hardy filed for divorce after eight months of marriage. Records of the divorce case are sealed, but in court yesterday Jeffries said a hearing will be held next month before Judge John Driscoll for Ucman to challenge the validity of a prenuptial agreement.
Hardy had no comment about the verdict.
Assistant District Attorney Kelly Hammers said Ucman faces a minimum sentence of nine to 16 months in jail when he is sentenced in about 70 days.
Jeffries said Ucman would appeal.
"We don't know who took the jewelry. We respect the decision of the judge, but we respectfully disagree," Jeffries said.
