Ex-East Haven Cop Denied Public Defender in Illegal Hunting Case

David Cari — one of four East Haven Police officers indicted for alleged federal civil rights violations — was denied his request for a public defender in the recent illegal hunting case against him because his weekly income is too high, according to a New Haven Register report.

The former officer retired from the East Haven Police Department last year. The Register reports Cari has received some $582 a month in retirement benefits from the town.

The court, however, found that Cari's income was $200 above the maximum weekly income allowed to qualify, according to the newspaper's report.

Earlier this month, Cari was arrested by state police for allegedly illegally hunting deer and trespassing on Regional Water Authority property near the Lake Saltonstall Reservoir.

Cari — who is out on bail as he awaits trial in the federal case — was ordered back under house arrest and into his mother's custody after a judge determined the illegal hunting and trespassing charges violated the terms of his release.

The jury trial for Cari and East Haven Police Officer Dennis Spaulding is scheduled to begin on April 8.

The two other East Haven Police officers indicted along with Cari and Spaulding — John Miller and Jason Zullo — will not face a jury trial.

Although all four men initially plead "not guilty," both Miller and then Zullo later changed their pleas to "guilty."