Shelton man avoids jail time for sexual assault of preteen
MILFORD — A Shelton man accused of molesting a preteen girl will not be sent to jail, according to a plea deal he agreed to as jury selection was due to begin in the case.
The man, 74-year-old John Dinsdale, pleaded nolo contendere, or no contest, to charges of risk of injury to a minor and fourth-degree sexual assault before Judge Peter Brown at Superior Court in Milford last month.
Under the terms of the plea deal, Dinsdale will receive a five-year suspended sentence and three years probation. The sentencing is scheduled for March 28 at Superior Court in Derby.
The nolo pleas mean Dinsdale did not admit or deny the charges — punishable by a total of 11 years in prison — but the judge entered findings of guilty.
Dinsdale’s lawyer did not return a message seeking comment on the case.
During a plea hearing Feb. 2, the day jury selection was due to begin in the case, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Sanangelo said the charges dated to when the victim, now 22, was between 10 and 13 years old.
The prosecutor said the victim revealed the incidents to her parents in 2018, when she was 17. Sanangelo said the victim subsequently provided “graphic and detailed” specifics to police and a social worker during a forensic interview at YaleNew Haven Hospital.
Dinsdale knew the victim, Sanangelo said, and the assaults took place at Dinsdale’s Canoe Brook Drive home. While groping and kissing the victim, the victim said he would say things like “God made you for me,” “You are mine,” and “I want to take you to prom.”
The victim estimated the assaults lasted between 4 or 5 minutes and 10 minutes, and occurred a total of about 20 times, the prosecutor said.
Sanangelo said police reached out to Dinsdale, but he was represented by a lawyer and declined to speak to investigators.
The victim and several family members attended the plea hearing and support the deal, according to the prosecutor.
“They were all ready and willing to testify if this case was to start trial today,” Sanangelo said.
The judge indicated that he would sign protective orders barring Dinsdale from contacting the victim or her immediate family members.
As part of the probation, Dinsdale will have to undergo sex offender treatment, the judge said.
“If you become ineligible for such treatment because of a refusal to acknowledge that you committed the act or acts charged, you will be deemed to be in violation of the conditions of your probation and will be returned to court on a violation of probation charge,” Brown said. “Do you understand that, Mr. Dinsdale?”
“Yes, I do,” Dinsdale replied.
The judge also said that if he decides at sentencing the suspended sentence isn’t appropriate, he would allow Dinsdale to withdraw the no contest pleas and proceed to trial.