Man Accused of ‘Heroes’ Murder Faces New Charges

LONG BEACH — The man accused of killing “Hogan’s Heroes” television star Bob Crane pleaded innocent to unrelated charges he molested two children.

John Henry Carpenter, 64, entered the plea last week to three counts of child molestation. A pretrial hearing was ordered for Aug. 11.

Carpenter is charged with molesting his girlfriend’s daughter and the child’s playmate in late 1988 at his girlfriend’s Long Beach home. If convicted, Carpenter would face up to 12 years in state prison.

He is being held without bail on a murder charge. Prosecutors contend he crushed the skull of his friend, Crane, with a camera tripod on Jan. 29, 1978, at a Scottsdale, Ariz., apartment.

Carpenter, who had been under suspicion for years, has repeatedly denied killing Crane and called his arrest last month “tomfoolery.” The murder case is on hold until the molestation charges are resolved.