Lawyer: Kidnap suspects to end in-jail phone calls

PLACERVILLE, Calif. – A lawyer says a Northern California couple charged with kidnapping Jaycee Dugard and holding her captive for 18 years have agreed to halt their monthly telephone calls with each other rather than risk having their conversations made public.

El Dorado Chief Assistant County Counsel Edward Knapp said lawyers for Phillip and Nancy Garrido decided this week not to contest jail officials' efforts to pull the plug on the calls allowed since May.

Superior Court Judge Douglas Phimister temporarily suspended the calls earlier this month after Knapp said jail officials suspected the Garridos used their chats to coordinate their testimony.

The judge requested written evidence explaining why the calls should be discontinued permanently. Before Knapp could submit it, defense lawyers agreed to end the calls.