Date: Fri 23-Apr-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Kasbarian-court-sexual-assault

Full Text:

Kasbarian Agrees To Plead "No Contest" To One Charge

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

A local man has accepted a plea bargain agreement with the state on charges of

fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor stemming from an

incident last August in Danbury.

In an April 16 plea bargain agreement with the state, Frederick Kasbarian, 60,

of 1 Brassie Road pleaded "no contest" to risk of injury to a minor. The state

is not prosecuting the fourth-degree sexual assault charge.

The charges stem from an August 10 incident involving a 13-year-old boy at JC

Penney at the Danbury Fair shopping mall. Details about the incident were not

available.

Danbury police served a warrant against Mr Kasbarian, a former Newtown police

officer, September 23.

In December, a judge sealed the arrest warrant in the case to protect the

identity of the victim.

In return for Mr Kasbarian's plea of no contest, the state is recommending a

one-year suspended jail sentence and three years of probation. Probation would

include treatment, counseling, evaluation, and community service.

Sentencing in the case is scheduled for April 30 in Danbury Superior Court.

Mr Kasbarian is represented by attorney Eugene Riccio of Bridgeport.

In January, Mr Kasbarian sought but did not receive accelerated rehabilitation

status in the case. Accelerated rehabilitation is a special form of probation

for first offenders in which the charges are dismissed if the person

successfully complete a probationary period.

In January, First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal filed a complaint against

Danbury prosecutor Kevin Black over Black's criticism of him for providing a

letter of reference for Mr Kasbarian who was then seeking accelerated

rehabilitation from the court.

Mr Rosenthal's letter of recommendation for Mr Kasbarian was one of among 80

such letters submitted in court by Mr Kasbarian in seeking accelerated

rehabilitation.