Prosecution Against Ex-Police

In Theft Case Moves Forward

By Andrew Gorosko

DANBURY — The criminal case against two former Newtown police officers, each of whom is charged with multiple felonies for their alleged conspiratorial theft of large sums from the Newtown Police Union’s financial accounts, is moving forward in Danbury Superior Court.

Defense lawyers for the two men, the court prosecutor, and a judge met on Wednesday, January 18, for the first “supervised pretrial conference” on the companion cases of Andrew Stinson, 35, of Watertown, and Domenic Costello, 33, of Stratford.

Attorney James Diamond, representing Mr Stinson, and attorney John Gulash, Jr, who represents Mr Costello, met with State’s Attorney Stephen J. Sedensky III, and with Judge John Blawie in closed session in the judge’s chambers to discuss the progress of the cases.

In such sessions, the judge supervises discussions among the prosecutor and the defense attorneys over the resolution of the cases. At such meetings, possible plea agreements to resolve cases may be discussed.

Before the conference started, Messrs Stinson and Costello sat at opposite sides of the public seating area in Courtroom 3.

Following the lengthy January 18 conference, the two lawyers privately discussed the cases with their respective clients.

Later on January 18, Mr Sedensky said, “The case is moving along.” He declined to make any specific comments about the progress of the prosecution.

“This is a case where there is a lot of paperwork,” he noted, citing the financial nature of the alleged crimes.

The prosecution of financial crimes takes time to complete, said Mr Sedensky, who has a background in handling such cases.

A second supervised pretrial conference is scheduled for February 10, at which more private discussion among the judge, the prosecutor, and the two defense lawyers is scheduled.

The January 18 court appearances marked the 12th time that Mr Stinson’s and Mr Costello’s names have appeared on the court docket since their criminal arraignments on the multiple charges last spring.

Both ex-police officers have pleaded not guilty to all felonies that are pending against them. Both men have elected to have jury trials.

According to 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.

Mr Stinson is 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.

Mr Stinson, an ex-patrol officer and police dog handler, formerly was the police union’s president. He has declined to comment on the case.

Mr Costello is 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.

Mr Costello, an ex-sergeant, formerly served as the police union’s treasurer. Similarly, he has declined to comment on the case.

Arrest warrant affidavits on the two cases describe the police union’s discovery in October 2010, that it was missing large sums of money due to illegitimate withdrawals from union’s financial accounts by the two former police officers.

Both police officers were put on paid administrative leave in October 2010 after the police union learned of the missing money.

During a police investigation into the missing money, 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’ to help with personal problems,” according to court papers.

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

The Newtown Police Department has conducted an internal investigation into the disappearance of the police union funds. The results of that investigation have not yet been disclosed.