Public Works Theft—

Judge Seeks To Expedite Embezzlement Case

By Andrew Gorosko

In an apparent effort to expedite the court case of a former Town of Newtown employee who is accused of embezzling $88,832 in public funds, a judge has reduced the defendant’s requested time extension for adjudicating the matter.

In Danbury Superior Court on August 6, attorney Eugene Riccio, representing defendant Trisha Johnson, asked Judge Barbara Bellis to continue the court case until September 10, so that Mr Riccio would have enough time to discuss the case with a state prosecutor in seeking to resolve the pending criminal charge.

“It [the case] is already old,” Judge Bellis responded. Newtown police charged Ms Johnson, 23, of Southbury on March 24 with one count of first degree larceny.

“I’ve got scheduling problems,” Mr Riccio responded.

Judge Bellis urged that the case return to court sooner than September 10.

Mr Riccio then suggested an August 17 court date, which the judge approved.

On July 8, Mr Riccio withdrew Ms Johnson’s application to participate in a court program that would allow her to avoid prosecution. The Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (CADAC) program would have allowed Ms Johnson to avoid criminal prosecution and have her criminal felony charge dismissed, provided that she successfully completed the two-year drug abuse rehabilitation program. That program is intended for first offenders with substance abuse problems.

The state was expected to formally oppose Ms Johnson’s participation in the CADAC program.

Mr Riccio has not disclosed why he withdrew Ms Johnson’s CADAC application. CADAC’s analysis of Ms Johnson’s application remains under court seal.

Ms Johnson has pleaded “not guilty” to a charge of first-degree larceny for allegedly stealing funds she had collected as town waste disposal fees.

After court on August 6, Mr Riccio said he needs more time to discuss resolving the case with Assistant State’s Attorney Warren Murray. Some court cases are more difficult to resolve than others, Mr Riccio said.

Mr Riccio said that a resolution appeared no clearer on August 6 than it had on July 8, which was the preceding court appearance. The August 6 appearance was the sixth time the matter had come up in court. Mr Riccio said the issue of restitution of stolen money was no clearer on August 6 than it had been on July 8.

On April 7, Ms Johnson, who formerly worked as Newtown’s landfill administrator, entered a pro forma plea of “not guilty” to a charge of first-degree larceny in connection with her alleged embezzlement of public funds, in the form of cash and checks, between February 2003 and January 2004. Ms Johnson is free on $25,000 bail.

According to the Newtown police’s arrest warrant application, “The combined amount of cash and checks that was stolen between February 1, 2003, and January 2004 is approximately $88,832.” Police documents list the amount of cash stolen as $34,036, and the amount of checks stolen as $54,796. Police say they have recovered $38,645 of the $54,796 in checks.

The approximately $34,000 in stolen cash reportedly has been spent. Police documents indicate Ms Johnson told them in a confession that she stole the funds to support a drug habit.

The town has cashed stolen checks that have been recovered. The town is covered by insurance policies for such theft.