Guard undone by superheroes

Laura Sturza

A former Warner Bros. security guard suspected in the theft of a

Batman suit will spend nine months in jail for his role in the theft

of four custom-made Spider-Man costumes, officials said.

Burbank resident Jeffrey Glenn Gustafson, 36, pleaded no contest

Monday to one felony count of receiving stolen property in connection

with the theft of the Spider-Man suits from Sony Studios in Culver

City.

Authorities could not prove Gustafson stole a Batman suit from the

Warner Bros. lot, L.A. County Deputy District Atty. Don Tamura said.

In addition to jail time, Gustafson was placed on five years

probation and will have to pay $93,000 in restitution, including

$46,000 to collector Stuart Wilensky.

Wilensky bought three of the suits -- which have since been

returned to their rightful owners -- from Gustafson.

The Batman outfit, valued at about $150,000, was custom-made for

actor Val Kilmer for his performance in the 1995 release, “Batman

Forever.”

Warner Bros. declined to comment on the specifics of the theft or

Gustafson’s employment.

Co-defendant Robert Hughes of Los Angeles, 35, pleaded no contest

to a misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property in connection

with the thefts. He was sentenced to two years summary probation and

30 days of community service.