Man denied pretrial program in sexual assault case

STAMFORD — A judge denied a Westport man a pretrial program Thursday afternoon that could have led to charges tied to the alleged sexual assault of a man in 2021 being dropped.

Judge Gary White opted not to grant Cameron Kassees, 26, entry into the accelerated rehabilitation program, a pretrial probation program that could see all the charges against him dropped, during disposition hearing at the state Superior Court in Stamford Thursday.

“I think the crime is too serious and I can’t find he’s not likely to offend again,” said White as he sided with Assistant State’s Attorney Margaret Moscati, who had argued against granting the program.

Moscati argued that the case against Kassees, who is charged with seconddegree sexual assault, is “far too serious” for accelerated rehabilitation.

“This is someone who took advantage of a friend,” Moscati said.

Kassees was arrested in January 2022 and charged with second-degree sexual assault, a C felony that carries up to 10 years in prison.

Moscati said the incident was reported to police on Aug. 2, 2021, when a man contacted police and filed a sexual assault report.

The man told police that he had “passed out” at the home of Kassees, a friend, according to Moscati said. Moscati said the man woke up when Kassees allegedly intimately touched him.

Attorney Tyler Balding, who represents Kassees, claimed on Thursday that the act was “consensual.” Balding also presented the court with several letters attesting to Kassees’s “stellar character.”

White, however, said he couldn’t find “good cause” for granting the program.

Kassees, who is free after posting a $2,500 bond, is next expected in court on April 6.