Six Arrested For Vandalism At Fairfield Hills

By Andrew Gorosko

State police have arrested six youths on vandalism charges in connection with property damage incidents at the Fairfield Hills Hospital grounds in late July involving both state and town property.

State police served the six warrants during a four-hour period on August 23. The charges stem from incidents that occurred on the weekend of July 27 through 29.

All six youths are charged with third-degree burglary, which is a felony, and conspiracy to commit third-degree criminal mischief.

 State police charged Charles Hill, 17, of 50 Osborn Hill Road, Sandy Hook; Sean Tracey, 17, of 13 Hawthorne Hill Road, Newtown;  Eric Koestner, 17, of 6 Beckett Village, Sandy Hook; Christopher Richtarich, 18, of Monroe; Matthew Hollis, 18, of Monroe; and Daniel Humphries, 18, of Norwalk.

State police additionally charged Hill and Richtarich with third-degree criminal mischief. All six youths are scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court September 10 to answer the charges.

Arrest warrant affidavits detailing the nature of the nighttime incidents were not available at Danbury Superior Court.  

State police said the youths forcibly entered the Yale Laboratory building at Fairfield Hills, which served as the morgue at the former mental institution. In entering the building, the youths damaged two doors, state police said.

Also, the youths punctured the sidewalls of tires on nine Newtown trucks which are normally parked behind the Yale Laboratory, state police said. The damaged tires were irreparable. The former morgue is adjacent to Canaan House, which Newtown uses as an office building. The town is in the process of buying the Fairfield Hills core campus from the state.

Third-degree criminal mischief covers incidents involving up to $250 worth of property damage.

On the same weekend of July 27 through 29, state police learned of another vandalism incident at Cochran House on Mile Hill Road South at Fairfield Hills. It was an instance of criminal mischief and third-degree burglary. Someone damaged a right front window at Cochran House and then entered the building, but nothing was removed, state police have said.

State Trooper Brian Morrone is investigated the case.