Ex-Cops Granted Continuances In

Police Union Theft Cases

By Andrew Gorosko

DANBURY — Two former Newtown police officers, who each have been charged with multiple felonies for their alleged theft of funds from the Newtown Police Union’s financial accounts, were granted continuances in their criminal cases this week in Danbury Superior Court.

Both Andrew Stinson, 35, of Watertown, and Domenic Costello, 33, of Stratford, are scheduled to next appear in court on January 18.

The January 18 appearances would mark the 12th time that their names have appeared on the court docket since their criminal arraignments on the multiple charges last spring.

In Courtroom 3 on December 14, Judge Susan Reynolds approved the two requested continuances.

Attorney James Diamond represents Mr Stinson. Attorney Eugene Riccio is Mr Costello’s lawyer. 

State’s Attorney Stephen J. Sedensky III, is the prosecutor.

It is expected that the two cases will be proceeding through the “supervised pretrial conference” phase, during which a judge would supervise discussions among the prosecutor and the defense attorneys over the resolution of the cases. At such sessions, possible plea agreements to a resolve a case may be discussed.

The first supervised pretrial conference is now slated for January 18.

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 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.

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 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.

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

Arrest warrant affidavits on the two cases describe the police union’s learning in October 2010, 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 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 the court papers.

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