Bohl: No charges filed against local publisher

Prosecutor’s office claims lack of evidence
May 23, 2008 - 10:50AM
RYAN ORR Staff Writer
VICTORVILLE — No charges will be filed against a local newspaper publisher who was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of residential burglary, Chief Supervising Deputy District Attorney Gary Roth said Friday.


“We have declined to file criminal charges and decided there was insufficient evidence to prove the ‘intent to steal,’ element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt,” Roth said.


Raymond Pryke, publisher of Valley Wide newspapers, was arrested on May 8, for allegedly breaking into a house owned by Artisan Real Estate, a company he is currently suing.


Employees of Artisan Real Estate were checking on a house when they discovered Pryke and a locksmith attempting to change the locks, said Cindy Beavers, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.


According to officials, after the locks were changed, Pryke entered the home in the 25800 block of Rancho Street and took undisclosed property from within the vacant home.


Pryke, 85, said he could not comment on the case, but that he was planning on checking himself into to Loma Linda University Medical Center next week.


“I’m under a lot of stress and am going into Loma Linda for a physical examination because my blood pressure is way too high,” Pryke said.


Pryke was ordered to pay $3 million after San Bernardino County Sheriff Gary Penrod’s wife, Nancy Bohl, sued him for libel relating to articles about her and her company in Pryke’s newspapers.


The judgment was overturned in the 4th District court of appeals and the case was sent back to the superior court to be tried again. It is slated to start July 7.

Ryan Orr may be reached at 951-6277 or rorr@vvdailypress.com