CHAPTER 52 Jeffrey Epstein: June 30, 2008 T he Palm Beach County Main Detention Center is on the west side of Lake Worth Lagoon, which separates West Palm Beach from the island of Palm Beach. Epstein’s home on El Brillo Way is five miles to the east. Mary’s high school is several miles to the west. It’s fitting, somehow, that this jail-which is the jail Epstein ends up in, after turning himself in to the local sheriff-lies in between the two points. The detention center’s inmates, their families, and their lawyers call it the Gun Club, a reference not only to the jail’s address, on Gun Club Road, but also to its population of hustlers, burglars, drug dealers, rapists, and murderers. There’s the occasional hooker as well. And, from time to time, Haitian refugees are lodged there. There are three thousand inmates in all. 199 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009027¶
JAMES PATTERSON Some wait a year before making their way to the courthouse, their date with the public defender, and an appearance before the judge. Some get out much sooner, if only they can make bail. But there’s no bail without money-or at least collateral-and, of course, being without money is often what lands people in jail in the first place. Jeffrey Epstein could have posted bail for every single inmate in the Gun Club. But that’s just one of the ways in which Epstein is unlike his fellow inmates. He’s an admitted pedophile now. Even a famous one. And, famously, pedophiles tend to fare poorly in jail. Luckily for Epstein, Ric Bradshaw, the sheriff in charge of local jails, transfers Epstein to the infirmary, where he spends exactly one night before being transferred seven miles up the road to a much smaller, safer location: the Palm Beach County Central Detention Center-or, as it’s known, the Stockade. “It’s not somewhere we’d put a serial killer,” Ric Bradshaw says. Most of the residents here are addicts who take part in drug education programs, prostitutes, petty criminals, and drunks. It’s a far safer place for Epstein to be, and, unlike other inmates (except, of course, those being held in solitary), he’ll end up with his own cell, even his own wing, which he has to himself. Epstein’s allowed to pay for a security guard, who sits outside the cell and keeps watch. And he’s allowed any number of visitors. For a convicted felon, it’s an extraordinary benefits package. But according to Sheriff Bradshaw, who also oversees the Stockade, Epstein is incredulous over the treatment he is receiving. “He was astonished that he had to go to prison at all,” Bradshaw remembers. “Let’s just say he didn’t think he belonged there.” 200 Sheriff Ric Bradshaw: June O ur job,” says Ric Bradsl killed him.” Sheriff Bradshaw co Western. Imposingly tall, with mustache, and slow, southern old-school law officer-the ki patrolling the streets of Tombst He’s been a lawman for forty-f been spent as the head of the co talk to the media, and today, as he’s clearly uncomfortable, fidget But here in his wood-panele Gun Club, Bradshaw remembers “We have a thousand sexua says. “When he arrived here, he 201 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009028¶
TTERSON ing their way to the courthouse, nder, and an appearance before boner, if only they can make bail. ey—or at least collateral—and, is often what lands people in jail posted bail for every single inmate ays in which Epstein is unlike his pedophile now. Even a famous one. tend to fare poorly in jail. radshaw, the sheriff in charge of o the infirmary, where he spends g transferred seven miles up the location: the Palm Beach County r, as it’s known, the Stockade. it a serial killer,” Ric Bradshaw says. : are addicts who take part in drug ites, petty criminals, and drunks. in to be, and, unlike other inmates g held in solitary), he’ll end up with 1 wing, which he has to himself. security guard, who sits outside the ‘s allowed any number of visitors. an extraordinary benefits package. radshaw, who also oversees the Stock- ‘er the treatment he is receiving. he had to go to prison at all,” Bradhink he belonged there.” 200 CHAPTER 53 Sheriff Ric Bradshaw: June 2015 O ur job,” says Ric Bradshaw, “was to make sure nobody killed him.” Sheriff Bradshaw could have stepped off the set of a Western. Imposingly tall, with his cowboy hat, Kurt Russell mustache, and slow, southern drawl, he looks exactly like an old-school law officer—the kind you once would have found patrolling the streets of Tombstone, Deadwood, or Dodge City. He’s been a lawman for forty-four years, eleven of which have been spent as the head of the county’s jails. As a rule, he doesn’t talk to the media, and today, as he talks about Jeffrey Epstein, he’s clearly uncomfortable, fidgety, and ill disposed. But here in his wood-paneled office on the first floor of the Gun Club, Bradshaw remembers Epstein quite well. “We have a thousand sexual predators in the county,” he says. “When he arrived here, he was one of them. He definitely 201 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009029¶
JAMES PATTERSON F11 fit the category we have to ensure the general population is not going to take their anger out on.” met a suave short-haired ge French accent. Although he understands that Epstein is a sex offender and has a sense of the scope of his alleged crimes, Bradshaw’s also aware that the actual conviction was for a “low-level felony.” At the request of Epstein’s attorneys-a request that is confirmed by a court order-Epstein is quickly granted “work release.” What it means in practice is that six days a week, for up to sixteen-sixteen!-hours each day, Epstein is allowed to leave the Stockade to be driven by a designated driver in a car earmarked especially for him to any one of three places: his lawyer Jack Goldberger’s office in downtown West Palm Beach, the Palm Beach office of a science foundation that he’s established, and his house on El Brillo Way. Despite the ankle bracelet he wears, it could be argued that as a fabulously rich prisoner with two of his own jets parked nearby, at the Palm Beach International Airport, Epstein might have posed a flight risk. Instead, every day of the week save one, he’s allowed to go to his lawyer’s, to go to his office, or simply to go home. Did the deputy in charge of Epstein go to the house on El Brillo Way? Ric Bradshaw considers the question. “Yes,” he says, “he did.” Did the deputy go inside the house? “Yes, he did.” If so, the deputy might have encountered Nadia Marcinkova, who was staying on El Brillo Way at the time. He may also have 202 20 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009030¶
PATTERSON ure the general population is not 1.” that Epstein is a sex offender of his alleged crimes, Bradshaw’s viction was for a “low-level felony.” ttorneys-a request that is conpstein is quickly granted “work is that six days a week, for up to ch day, Epstein is allowed to leave a designated driver in a car earany one of three places: his lawyer lowntown West Palm Beach, the e foundation that he’s established, y. t he wears, it could be argued that : with two of his own jets parked ternational Airport, Epstein might week save one, he’s allowed to go to e, or simply to go home. e of Epstein go to the house on El he question. the house? ave encountered Nadia Marcinkova,¶
Way at the time. He may also have 202 FILTHY RICH met a suave short-haired gentleman who spoke with a distinct French accent. That would be Jean-Luc Brunel. For the duration of Jeffrey Epstein’s stay-or half stay-in the Stockade, Brunel’s taken up residence in the house on El Brillo Way. 203 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009031
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