Community Corner

Jury: East Haven Police Officers Guilty In Civil Rights Case

UPDATE at 6:50 p.m.

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut also weighs in on today's guilty verdict.

UPDATE at 4:50 p.m.


East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr has issued a public statement on the news of the guilty verdict in the trial. The release noted Maturo would not be making any other statements related to the ruling and the case.

ORIGINAL POST

The jury has found East Haven Police Officers David Cari and Dennis Spaulding guilty of federal charges that they violated the civil rights of Latino residents and others, according to a Hartford Courtant report

The two men were convicted on all charges: conspiracy against civil rights, deprivation of rights for making arrests without probable cause and "obstruction of justice for writing a false police report in the arrest of the Rev. James Manship," The Courant reports.

Additionally, Spaulding was charged with using unreasonable force. 

Spaulding to Appeal

Jurors began their deliberations on Friday, about a month after the trial for Cari and Spauldin began.

Both men now face sentencing of up to 20 years in federal prison. Their sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 21.

The Courant reports Spaulding's attorney says his client intends to appeal the decision.

Miller, Zullo Still Await Sentencing

Two other East Haven Police officers indicted last year along with Cari and Spaulding — John Miller and Jason Zullo — were not part of the jury trial. 

Although all four men initially plead "not guilty" to the federal charges, both Miller and then Zullo changed their pleas to "guilty" earlier this year. 

Miller and Zullo have not yet been sentenced.


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