Newtown Man Appointed State’s Attorney

By Andrew Gorosko

The state Criminal Justice Commission has appointed a Newtown man to serve as the state’s attorney for the Judicial District of Danbury.

State’s Attorney Stephen J. Sedensky, III, is the chief law enforcement officer in the judicial district, succeeding Walter D. Flanagan, who retired in January after serving nearly three decades in that post.

Mr Sedensky, 48, was appointed to the position on February 22. The appointment is for a term expiring on June 30, 2010. Seven other candidates were in the running for the post.

Mr Sedensky is a Democratic member of the Newtown Board of Ethics.

Mr Sedensky said this week, “I want to continue the good work that Walter Flanagan did and add my signature to it…I’m looking forward to the position of state’s attorney.”

Mr Sedensky said he plans to continue working as a prosecutor on criminal cases in the courtroom while serving as the state’s attorney.

The state’s attorney said he plans to work closely with area chiefs of police in performing his duties. Besides Danbury, the judicial district includes Newtown, Bethel, New Fairfield, Brookfield, Sherman, Redding, and Ridgefield.

A senior assistant state’s attorney in Danbury since January 2004, Mr Sedensky is nationally recognized for his work in the prosecution of child abuse cases.

Mr Sedensky joined the state’s Division of Criminal Justice in July 1984 as a deputy assistant state’s attorney at Geographical Area No. 2 in Bridgeport. He transferred to the Judicial District of Bridgeport (Part A) in 1987 and was appointed supervisory assistant state’s attorney in the Statewide Prosecution Bureau of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in April 2000, a position that he held until his transfer to Danbury in January 2004.

“We congratulate Attorney Sedensky on his appointment and wish him the very best as he takes on this important leadership position in the criminal justice system. We are confident that he will serve in the great tradition of Walter Flanagan, the first State’s Attorney in Danbury,” said Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Richard N. Palmer, who heads the Criminal Justice Commission.

“We also wish to thank all who applied for the position and extend our gratitude for their distinguished service to the Division of Criminal Justice and the people of Connecticut,” said Justice Palmer.

The commission is responsible for the appointment of all state prosecutors in Connecticut with the exception of juvenile prosecutors.

While serving as the senior assistant state’s attorney in Danbury, Mr Sedensky took part in the investigation and prosecution of major felony cases including murders, financial crimes, and child and adult sexual assaults.

Mr Sedensky is a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused Children.