Ex-Police Sergeant Sentenced On Embezzlement Conviction

By Andrew Gorosko

DANBURY — A judge on Wednesday, May 9, sentenced the former treasurer of the Newtown Police Union to spend the next six months in jail, among other penalties, for having stolen $95,392 from the union’s financial accounts during a three-year period ending in 2010.

Danbury Superior Court Judge John Blawie also ordered ex-police sergeant Domenic Costello, 34, of Stratford to serve three years’ probation following his jail time. That probation will include 50 hours of community service during each of the three years.

Costello’s sentencing was delayed until May 9, until it was clear that he had made full restitution to the police union for his theft of money.

Co-defendant Andrew Stinson, 35, of Watertown was sentenced in court on May 2. Ex-police patrol officer Stinson made restitution to the union in the amount of $95,667. Stinson was the president of the police union.

Just before noon on Wednesday, several judicial marshals led Costello into Courtroom 3 from an adjacent prisoner holding area.

Costello was clad in the bulky bright orange jumpsuit that is worn by prisoners who are transported to court from jail. Costello’s arms and legs were restrained by handcuffs and leg irons, strictly limiting his range of motion.

In court on May 2, Judge Blawie had imposed a bail of $100,000 on Costello, resulting in his being incarcerated until his May 9 court appearance.

Attorney John Gulash, Jr, represented Costello.

Considering that Costello had made full restitution of the funds that he stole from the police union, State’s Attorney Stephen J. Sedensky III asked Judge Blawie to impose the sentence on Costello.

In February, Costello and Stinson entered plea agreements which imposed identical sentences on them for each of their guilty pleas to one count of first-degree larceny, a felony.

“Both men are capable of leading productive lives” after they are released from jail, Judge Blawie said, noting that those future lives would not include their former roles in law enforcement.

Judge Blawie asked Costello whether he would address the court before his sentence was imposed.

“No, sir, I spoke,” Costello responded, noting that he had spoken in court on May 2 when Stinson was sentenced.

On May 2, Costello said, “I’m truly sorry for what I’ve done…I’ve changed my life around.”

Because Stinson and Costello are now sentenced inmates, they are supervised by the state Department of Correction (DOC). After serving half of their jail terms, Stinson and Costello would be eligible to seek early release by the DOC, provided that they meet applicable criteria for such early release.

The sentences given to the two men by Judge Blawie imposed ten-year prison terms, whose execution would be suspended after they serve six months of incarceration. If the men violate the terms of their three-year probations, they would be subject to possible reimprisonment for violation of probation.

In comments to Stinson and Costello on May 2, Judge Blawie said, in part, “Embezzlement is the most serious form of larceny because it involves a breach of trust...A lapse in judgment became fraud…It [theft] mushroomed to almost $100,000 for each man…We don’t need to be reminded that policemen are human beings.”

The disposition of the embezzlement case shows that the legal system works, Judge Blawie then said. The actions of Stinson and Costello should not be held against the Newtown Police Department at large, he then added.

In March 2011, Stinson was charged with six felonies and Costello was charged with five felonies for their embezzlement of police union funds while serving as police union officers.

Stinson was 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.

Stinson was the police department’s dog handler.

Costello was 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.

Costello, who was a patrol sergeant, conducted the police department’s Citizen Police Academy informational course for the public. Also, Costello holds a law degree.

Arrest warrant affidavits describe the police union’s October 2010 discovery that its financial accounts were thoroughly depleted due to illegitimate withdrawals by Stinson and Costello.

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

“Both Stinson and Costello admitted that they did take out ‘personal loans’ [from the union accounts] to help with personal problems,” according to the legal papers.

Following a five-month investigation, Danbury police charged Stinson and Costello with the multiple offenses. Danbury police conducted the probe on behalf of the Newtown Police Department. Both men resigned their police positions before they were arrested.

Both Stinson and Costello were being held as prisoners on Wednesday in the Bridgeport Correctional Center.