Tag: connecticut

Local CT Officials Ignored ICE Immigration Detainer, Released Illegal Immigrant “Sexual Predator” Into CT Neighborhood

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston apprehended an unlawfully present Honduran national who was arrested locally and charged with first degree sexual assault of a minor.

Turns out, the local officials in the sanctuary city of Hartford ignored the ICE immigration detainer and released the Honduran national from the Hartford Correctional Center.

“This is a disturbing example of how noncooperative jurisdictions can pose a significant threat to communities in our region,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “Despite the presence of an immigration detainer, local authorities released an alleged sexual predator onto the streets of a Connecticut neighborhood. ERO Boston stands ready to work with local jurisdictions to prioritize public safety throughout New England.”

According to the ICE report, the Honduran national unlawfully entered the U.S. in August 2013, near Rio Grande City, Texas. U.S. Border Patrol arrested him, issued him a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge, and released him on recognizance to family members in New Britain.

On September 14, 2023, police in New Britain arrested and charged him with sexual assault offenses, including first degree sexual assault against a minor under the age of 13 and illegal sexual contact with a minor.

On October 13, 2023, ERO Boston lodged a detainer against him with the Hartford Correctional Center.

Officials at the Hartford Correctional Center ignored ERO Boston’s immigration detainer and released the Honduran national Feb. 1, 2024.

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Connecticut Lawmakers Approve Psilocybin Decriminalization Bill In Joint Committee Vote

Connecticut lawmakers have approved a bill to decriminalize psilocybin in a bicameral committee.

About two weeks after the legislature’s Joint Judiciary Committee first discussed the psychedelics proposal, members approved it on Tuesday.

The legislation would make possession of up to one-half an ounce of psilocybin punishable by a $150 fine, without the threat of jail time.

A second or subsequent violation would carry a fine of at least $200 but not more than $500. A person who pleads guilty or no contest on two separate occasions would be referred to a drug education program.

Police would be required to seize and destroy any amount of the psychedelic they find under the measure, HB 5297. Possession of more than a half-ounce of psilocybin would be considered a Class A misdemeanor.

Judiciary Committee Co-chair Rep. Steven Stafstrom (D) said the bill is partly about “recognizing that there has been quite a bit of study around this drug [and] recognizing the potential health benefits that veterans and others suffering from PTSD use it for and pushing in that direction.”

“Let’s be clear: This is not a legalization bill,” he said. “Possession of psilocybin under this bill would still be illegal. A police officer could still confiscate it could still destroy it and could issue an infraction ticket to someone in possession of small amounts of psilocybin.”

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Blumenthal And Murphy Want Federal Funding To Subsidize Construction Costs For Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective Known As A “Champion Of LGBTQIA+ Equity”

Congressman Matt Gaetz exposed Connecticut Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy for wanting to give $156,000 in taxpayer dollars to subsidize a controversial health organization in Hartford.

The Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective (HGLHC) describes itself as “a health center and champion of LGBTQIA+ equity” that “advocates for systemic solutions to the health care access barriers and health disparities experienced by sexual and gender minority groups.”

HGLHC aims to become the premier health and wellness center for the LGBTQIA+ community in Connecticut.

It currently provides medical services, dental services, support groups, and health education tailored primarily to LGBTQIA+ communities.

HGLHC has full and part-time staff, along with more than 100 volunteers who contribute thousands of hours annually to support the group’s efforts, which include organizing community and educational events.

For instance, HGLHC held an event called “Butt Stuff: Pleasure and Safety for Anal Play” last year.

The event targeted folks “having anal sex or any kind of anal play” in order to share health and safety information, as well as how to make “butt sex” an enjoyable experience. Attendees were entered into a drawing to win a free vibrator.

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Connecticut Governor Wants To Give Noncitizens IDs That Look Exactly Like Those Used To Vote

Connecticut’s Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont is trying to redesign driver’s licenses so that those given to illegal aliens will be indistinguishable from those given to legal residents — in the same state where one city just had an election do-over because of an apparent cast of voter fraud.

The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles currently denotes on licenses if they are “Drive Only” IDs, a measure put in place to ensure ineligible individuals cannot vote, according to the CT Examiner. “Drive Only” licenses have a “DO” stamp on the front and information on the back clearly stating they may not be used for voting.

Gov. Ned Lamont, however, wants to remove the marks because he’s mad that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law that does not recognize licenses given to illegal immigrants.

“Connecticut prides itself on being a welcoming state,” Lamont’s spokeswoman Julia Bergman said in a statement, according to CT Examiner. “As some states work to target undocumented people, the visual differences in the licenses Connecticut provides to undocumented people has unintentionally made Connecticut residents with varying immigration statuses vulnerable in hostile states.”

Florida passed legislation last year specifying that it will not recognize licenses from Connecticut and four other states that permit illegal immigrants to get the government-issued ID.

“Someone who is in our country illegally and has violated our laws should not possess a government-issued ID which allows them access to state-funded services and other privileges afforded to lawful residents,” Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said, according to The Hill. Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner added that “Florida will not accept driver’s licenses from those who cannot provide proof of lawful presence in the United States.”

But if Lamont’s efforts are successful, some are worried it could open the door to voting fraud.

Cara Gately, the Republican Registrar of Voters for the town of Darien, told CT Examiner that poll workers will have a hard time determining whether an individual is eligible to register to vote and cast a vote, especially since the state permits same-day voter registration.

“If such language is removed, election officials and poll workers very likely will unknowingly and erroneously accept the application for registration and allow ineligible persons to vote at poll sites in contradiction of state and federal law,” Gately told CT Examiner.

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Connecticut Lawmakers File Psilocybin Decriminalization Bill Despite Governor’s Concerns

Connecticut lawmakers have revived an effort to decriminalize low-level possession of psilocybin, despite the governor’s office recently indicating that it has concerns about the psychedelics reform.

A new bill filed by the legislature’s Joint Judiciary Committee and cosponsored by Rep. David Michel (D) would make possession of up to one-half an ounce of psilocybin punishable by a $150 fine, without the threat of jail time.

A second or subsequent violation would carry a fine of at least $200 but not more than $500. A person who pleads guilty or no contest on two separate occasions would be referred to a substance misuse treatment program

Police would be require to seize and destroy any amount of the psychedelic they find under the measure, HB 5297. Possession of more than a half-ounce of psilocybin would be considered a Class A misdemeanor.

An earlier version of the psilocybin decriminalization bill passed the House last year but did not advance in the Senate.

Lawmakers and activists held an informational forum last month to discuss the therapeutic potential of substances such as psilocybin and potential pathways to allow for regulated access.

“We are inspired by the leadership of the Judiciary Committee to continue the conversation on how to responsibly decriminalize psilocybin and stand ready to assist the legislature and the governor in working through any concerns,” Jason Ortiz, policy director of Connecticut for Accessible Psychedelic Medicine who also serves as director of strategic initiatives for the Last Prisoner Project, told Marijuana Moment.

“While the bill is a great start, there’s still room for improvement by including home cultivation and retroactive relief for those who were criminalized for simply seeking a better quality of life,” he said.

Meanwhile, as the legislation is being introduced, the office of Gov. Ned Lamont (D) has signaled that it may face a major barrier to enactment.

“The governor has concerns about broad decriminalization of mushrooms,” spokesperson David Bednarz said last month, noting that at the time it was “a bit too early to speculate” because a 2024 bill had not yet been filed yet.

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Bridgeport Democrat Mayor Wins Race After His Associate Is Caught Stuffing the Local Ballot Drop Boxes with Bags of Ballots

Mayor Joe Ganim won another victory on Tuesday in the Bridgeport, Connecticut special election for the Democratic primary for mayor. Ganim quickly claimed victory after winning the in-person tally by 274 votes.

In November a local judge overturned the initial primary election after Wanda Geter-Pataky, the Vice Chairwoman of the Democratic Town Clerk and a vocal supporter of incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim,  was caught on video stuffing the ballot drop boxes with dozens if not hundreds of absentee ballots.

So Mayor Ganim won again on Tuesday against John Gomes in the Democrat primary.

Superior Court Judge William Clark ordered a new election to be held, citing bombshell video evidence of election fraud as the basis for his decision. The ruling has far-reaching implications, not just for Bridgeport but for the entire country, as it sets a precedent for ongoing and future cases involving mail-in ballot fraud.

The Gateway Pundit reported in September that mayoral candidate John Gomes’ campaign released a damning video showing evidence of election fraud in the Bridgeport Democratic primary. The video has prompted an investigation by the Bridgeport Police Department for “possible misconduct.”

The video on the Gomes campaign’s Facebook page shows a woman dropping stacks of ‘illegal’ ballots into an absentee ballot box outside the Bridgeport government center, where the city’s Registrar of Voters office is located.

The Gomes campaign was able to identify the woman in the footage as Wanda Geter-Pataky, the Vice Chairwoman of the Democratic Town Clerk and a vocal supporter of incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim, who is seeking reelection. Gomes’ campaign claims that the video shows Geter-Pataky dropping off stacks of absentee ballots ahead of the September 12th primary.

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‘That’s the best you could do?’: Father irate after teacher accused of sexually assaulting 4th grade girls gets probation

A now-former Connecticut elementary school teacher reached an agreement with prosecutors to avoid what could have been a substantial prison sentence over allegations that he inappropriately touched numerous girls who were his students over several years.

On Tuesday, James Eschert, 53, received a suspended sentence in New Britain Superior Court after accepting legal culpability on one count of risk of injury to a minor, a felony. He was previously charged with five such counts as well as two misdemeanor counts of sexual assault in the fourth degree — and could have been sentenced to well over 50 years behind bars if he had been convicted as charged.

The disgraced ex-teacher did not, however, plead guilty or no contest, but rather, entered an Alford plea — in which a defendant maintains his innocence but concedes the state has enough evidence to convict.

The threat of prison still looms for Eschert. Judge Maureen Keegan sentenced him to five years of probation. He is also subject to a suspended 10-year jail sentence if he violates the terms of his probation, according to a courtroom report by the Hartford Courant.

The former educator taught in the Plymouth school system since 1998. That all changed in September 2021 when a former student, then a middle schooler, complained to Eli Terry Jr. Middle School Principal Angela Suffridge about past alleged misconduct.

Eschert was initially arrested by Plymouth police on Jan. 24, 2022. A complaint alleges: “inappropriate conduct … between Mr. Eschert and several juveniles who were his students at the time of the incidents.”

An ensuing investigation led to the seven charges of risk of injury to a child and sexual assault, which, in the end, were pared down to one.

One girl alleged Eschert frequently rubbed her shoulders and touched her breasts over her clothing daily to make sure she was wearing a bra. Once, the girl told police, her teacher touched her breasts directly.

Some students allege the then-teacher often invited girls to sit on his lap and forced girls to stay inside with him during recess, police said, according to an affidavit in the case obtained by Law&Crime.

Eschert allegedly took sexualized photos of the girls while they were in school. A camera recovered by authorities is said to have revealed 26 “inappropriate” images; two of the pictures allegedly showed “a close-up of a female student’s groin area while she was performing a cartwheel.” Three images “were taken from ground level and showed female students seated in a manner which exposed their groin and underwear,” the affidavit says.

One girl said Eschert would often give girls paper to decorate underneath his desk while he positioned his genitals “in her face or another girl’s face,” according to the affidavit. That same girl said her teacher would sometimes touch himself over his clothing.

Other students said Eschert was a big hugger — but only with girls, never with boys, police claimed. Sometimes, he would invite girls to his home, allegedly telling them they could stay for dinner.

Additional allegations were leveled against the defendant that contained particularly graphic descriptions of the alleged abuse.

Multiple other educators were arrested in connection with the case, alleging they swept the accusations against Eschert under the rug.

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Connecticut Marijuana Retailers Can Open On Christmas And New Year’s, But Alcohol Stores Must Close

People in Connecticut can’t legally buy alcohol on Christmas or New Year’s Day, the state Department of Consumer Protection reminded residents this week—but cannabis is A-OK.

“If you choose to consume alcohol with your holiday celebrations, be sure to make those purchases ahead of time, and, of course, please drink responsibly,” Department of Consumer Protection (DPC) Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said in a statement on Wednesday. “And, because we regulate many things you may be wondering about, Connecticut Law does not prohibit the sale of cannabis, or limit your ability to place wagers during the holidays.”

“No matter how you choose to spend the holidays,” he added, “please know your limit, arrange designated drivers and be respectful of the establishments and communities where you celebrate.”

On both New Year’s and Christmas Day, state law prohibits package stores from opening, and grocery stores are barred from selling beer. To-go sales of liquor are also banned.

“Hours for cannabis licensees,” said the Department of Consumer Protection, “are unaffected.”

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Court revives lawsuit over Connecticut rule allowing trans girls to compete in school sports

Opponents of Connecticut’s policy letting transgender girls compete in girls high school sports will get a second chance to challenge it in court, an appeals court ruled Friday, which revived the case without weighing in on its merits.

Both sides called it a win. The American Civil Liberties Union said it welcomes a chance to defend the rights of the two transgender high school track runners it represents. The Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented the four cisgender athletes who brought the lawsuit, also said it looks forward to seeking a ruling on the case’s merits.

In a rare full meeting of all active judges on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, judges found the cisgender runners have standing to sue and have described injuries that might qualify for monetary damages. The runners also seek to alter certain athletic records, alleging they were deprived of honors and opportunities at elite track-and-field events because they say “male athletes” were permitted to compete against them.

The case had been dismissed by a Connecticut judge in 2021, and that decision was affirmed by three-judge panel of the 2nd Circuit a year ago.

At least 20 states have approved a version of a blanket ban on transgender athletes playing on K-12 and collegiate sports teams statewide, but a Biden administration proposal to forbid such outright bans is set to be finalized by March after two delays and much pushback. As proposed, the rule announced in April would establish that blanket bans would violate Title IX, the landmark gender-equity legislation enacted in 1972.

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Trans child of Connecticut deputy associate attorney general arrested over antisemitic felony hate crime

The 28-year-old trans child of Connecticut’s deputy associate attorney general was arrested on Thursday over a felony antisemitic hate crime incident in Newtown. 

Sarah Stofko, who goes by the alias “Isaac,” was arrested on Dec. 7 by the Newtown Police Department following an investigation into the vandalism of an Israeli flag that had been cut down. According to the police report, a witness reported the incident to law enforcement and police were able to obtain a vehicle description and registration belonging to Stofko. The report lists Stofko’s sex as “m” though she is an adult female.

Stofko, an alumna of Hunter College in New York City, is facing charges of third-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias, a felony, and third-degree criminal mischief. Stofko is the child of Deputy Associate Attorney General Carolyn Signorelli, a Democrat and liberal activist. Stofko’s arrest record shows an address belonging to her mother, confirming she was living with the high-level state attorney in their 2,000-square-foot house in the state’s wealthiest county when she allegedly committed the hate crime.

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