Charlie was booked and fingerprinted for violation of the Mann Act and for plotting to deprive Joan Barry, his former protegé, of her constitutional rights. Clad in a yellow sweater, white coat with purple handkerchief, & brown pants, Charlie looked nervous and annoyed and at first refused to be fingerprinted with cameramen in the room, declaring, "I'm exercising my prerogative; if I do, it's under duress." Prints were eventually made of all ten of his fingers, a lengthy process which took twenty minutes. Afterward, he fumbled as he dipped his pen in ink to sign his arrest card. He emerged shaken and was lead quickly to the washroom. His attorney, Jerry Giesler, following him with a gasoline-soaked towel. As Charlie removed the ink from his fingers, Giesler told reporters: "He doesn't have anything to say." After the formalities, Charlie walked out of the building, past hundreds of curious onlookers & reporters. One elderly woman turned to her companion and said audibly: "The rat!" Charlie ignored her, proceeded to his car, and drove away with his attorney.
Charlie was eventually acquitted of the charges in April, 1944.