Two Ex-Police Make Court Appearances In Theft Case

By Andrew Gorosko

DANBURY — The two former Newtown police officers, who each have been charged with multiple felonies in connection with their alleged theft of funds from the Newtown Police Union’s financial accounts during a three-year period, each made separate appearances in Danbury Superior Court this week.

The state’s court proceedings on criminal charges against the two men are at an early stage at which the lawyers for the two defendants will be reviewing the state’s evidence against the two ex-police that led to the charges against them.

On Monday, April 25, Andrew Stinson appeared in Courtroom 2 before Judge Susan Reynolds. Mr Stinson is represented by attorney James Diamond. Assistant State’s Attorney Debbie Mabbett served as prosecutor.

At Mr Diamond’s request, Judge Reynolds continued Mr Stinson’s case to May 19, at which time he will be required to again appear in court.

Following the brief court appearance, Mr Diamond said that the court continuance would allow him time to proceed with his investigation into the charges pending against Mr Stinson.

Mr Stinson, 34, of Watertown, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny, three counts of first-degree larceny, one count of second-degree larceny, and one count of third-degree larceny. He has pleaded not guilty to all six felonies and has elected to have a jury trial on the charges.

Mr Stinson, an ex-patrol officer and police dog handler, formerly was the police union’s president.

Mr Stinson has declined to comment on the case.

On Tuesday, April 26, Domenic Costello appeared in Courtroom 2 before Judge Susan Quinn Cobb. Mr Costello is represented by attorney John Gulash, Jr. Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen Zingaro served as prosecutor.

During Mr Costello’s brief court appearance, Judge Cobb agreed to continue his case to May 31.

Declining to comment on the status of Mr Costello’s case, Mr Gulash said, however, “I’ll be getting ‘discovery’ materials.” Through the legal process of “discovery” a defense lawyer learns about the evidence which the state holds against the lawyer’s client.

Mr Costello, 33, of Stratford has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny; two counts of first-degree larceny; one count of accessory to first-degree larceny; and one count of third-degree larceny. He has pleaded not guilty to all five felonies and has elected to have a jury trial on the charges.

Mr Costello, an ex-sergeant, formerly served as the police union’s treasurer.

Mr Costello declined to comment on the pending case.

Following a five-month investigation, Danbury police charged Mr Stinson and Mr Costello with the offenses on March 16. Danbury police conducted the probe on behalf of the Newtown Police Department.

Arrest warrant affidavits for Mr Stinson and Mr Costello describe the Newtown Police Union’s learning last October that it was missing large sums of money due to illegitimate withdrawals from union financial accounts by the two former police officers.

During a police investigation into the missing money, the two police officers explained that they had “borrowed” money from union accounts to cover personal expenses and intended to pay back the union.

“Both Stinson and Costello admitted that they did take out ‘personal loans’ to help with personal problems,” according to the court papers.

According to the court documents, approximately $187,307 was stolen from police union accounts. Of that sum, Mr Stinson is listed as being responsible for $95,668 of the missing money, and Mr Costello for $91,639 of the missing funds.

Both men are free on written promises to appear in court. Both men resigned as police officers earlier this year. They were placed on paid administrative leave from the police department last October when the investigation into their activities started.

Both men had held prominent roles at the police department.

Mr Stinson joined the police department in July 2001. As the police department’s dog handler, he often demonstrated the skills of the department’s German shepherd to various community groups. Last year, Mr Stinson received a certificate of commendation from Newtown police for his aid in the Watertown police’s arrest of a man who had stolen a computer from a store in Watertown. Mr Stinson received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Western Connecticut State University in 1998.

Mr Costello became a town police officer in October 2003. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in May 2009. A former school resource officer, Mr Costello conducted the police department’s Citizen Police Academy, an informational program that explains local law enforcement in the context of the criminal justice system. Costello holds a law degree.