PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) - The Northern California couple
charged with kidnapping Jaycee Dugard 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.