Sheinbein To Stay
In Israeli Jails
JAMES D. BESSER
Washington Correspondent
n a stunning reversal, Samuel
Sheinbein, the Maryland teenager
wanted in a 1997 slaying and dis-
memberment case, agreed on
Tuesday to a plea bargain that could
put him back on the streets in 16 years.
But not just any streets. The
Maryland prosecutor who unsuccessful-
ly fought for his extradition said
Sheinbein would still be subject to arrest
and extradition if after his release, he
traveled to any country parr of Interpol
— the international police cooperation
treaty to which most western nations are
signatories — and that Maryland prose-
cutors would undoubtedly pursue that
option if given the chance.
Thus, it is unlikely that the former
Jewish day school student will ever
walk the streets of the United . States,
and most of Europe, again.
"Sheinbein will enter a guilty plea
on Sept. 2," said States Attorney
Douglas Gansler. "The prosecution
and defense will recommend a sen-
tence of 24 years. Sheinbein will
admit guilt in the murder of Alfredo
Enrique Tello Jr. and participation in
the dismemberment of his body"
This week's reversal was just one
more twist in a case that has been a
public relations nightmare for Israel.
The case had brought strains between
American Jewish and Hispanic groups,
as well as some members of Congress.
Representatives of AIPAC, the leading
pro-Israel lobby here, spent much ener-
gy last year trying to persuade upset
representatives to enable Israel's democ-
ratic justice system to take its course.
Under Israeli law, Sheinbein will
be eligible for parole after serving
two-thirds of his sentence, and for
weekend furloughs after one third,
Gansler said.
Sheinbein allegedly fled to Israel after
the murder of Tello, an acquaintance. A
second suspect, Aaron Needle, commit-
ted suicide in a Maryland jail only days
before his trial was set to begin.
Sheinbein and Needle were onetime stu-
dents at the Charles E. Smith Jewish
Day School in Rockville, an affluent
Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C.
Early this year, the Israeli Supreme
Court ruled that since Sheinbein's
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Detroit Jewish News
father was technically a citizen of
Israel, the son was protected by a law
— since modified -- barring extradi-
tion of Israeli nationals, even though
he had never lived in the Jewish state.
In July, Sheinbein surprised offi-
cials with a not guilty plea.
"Once you accept the fact he wasn't
going to be extradited, this is a good
result," Gansler said. "But its still an
insult to justice that he will most likely
be walking free at the age of 33."
Gansler expressed relief that his
office would not have to go through
Samuel Sheinbein in a Jerusalem
court last year.
what he described as the "logistical
nightmare" of supporting prosecutors
trying the case in Israel, but anger at
the way Israeli officials dealt with his
office.
"We weren't consulted and the vic-
tim's family wasn't consulted," he said.
"That simply is not good procedure."
Trouble For Albright
Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright's Mideast trip, scheduled for
next week, isn't shaping up the way
administration officials had hoped.
And the rumbles of discontent in
Washington, along with the implied
threat that she could cancel the visit
entirely, may have played a part in
this week's sudden flurry of Israeli-
Palestinian diplomacy.
The State Department is making it
clear that despite Palestinian demands
for more direct U.S. intervention,