Judge Decides To Bag It In Theft Case

The surveillance video shown in court yesterday was compelling, as it captured American Airlines baggage handlers rummaging through passengers' luggage and taking items before tossing the bags onto a conveyor belt at Philadelphia International Airport.

The prosecution's only problem, however, was a big one: not once was accused thief Victor Soler filmed taking anything.

Soler, 46, of Doylestown, who was arrested in November 2010 with three other American baggage handlers, is seen on Aug. 27 and Sept. 20 and 21 of that year working side-by-side with his sticky-fingered co-workers. He even laughed at one's antics.

He was charged with theft, conspiracy and related crimes because it appeared that he was acting as a lookout. He was keeping luggage flowing on the belt so his co-workers could steal without being detected by supervisors, Philadelphia police Detective Michael Wokciechowski testified during Soler's one-day, nonjury trial.

The hidden camera was mounted after the airline contacted police about the thefts, said Wokciechowski, the Police Department's lone detective assigned to the airport.

Assistant District Attorney Sara Guccini called no other witnesses and asked Municipal Judge Bradley K. Moss to find the defendant guilty based on the detective's testimony and the video evidence.

Defense attorney A. Charles Peruto Jr., in his closing argument, questioned why no airline representative or former Soler co-workers had been called to testify about his client's alleged thefts.

As for the video, Peruto said, it failed to show his client doing anything of a criminal nature.

Moss agreed, noting that Soler's "mere presence" with others breaking the law is not a crime itself.

"Looking at the video," Moss said, gave him "reasonable doubt" about Soler's guilt.

Not guilty, said the judge.

The three airline employees arrested with Soler pleaded guilty and were given probation sentences last year.

Soler, an unemployed married father of three daughters, emerged from the courtroom fighting back tears and fighting- mad. "I'm angry at everybody," he said. "I lost a lot of money. I lost a lot of pride, my respect.

"It's wrong what they did to me," he said of the airline where he had worked for 10 years before being fired.

Not only was Soler not involved in thefts, but he reported the crimes to airline supervisors several times, Peruto said.

Co-workers retaliated against Soler as a result, said Peruto, who promised to sue the co-workers, American Airlines, the city and the Police Department.

American Airlines had no comment, spokesman Ed Martelle wrote in an email.

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