The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Lizotte pleads guilty to larceny
TORRINGTON >> Robert Lizotte, the city’s former superintendent of streets, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of third-degree larceny and was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended, and $1,000 in restitution to the city of Torrington.
His plea at Superior Court in Litchfield was entered under the Alford Doctrine, which means that Lizotte did not specifically admit his guilt, but acknowledged that the prosecution had enough evidence that he would likely be convicted at trial. Lizotte also must serve two years on probation Third-degree larceny is a
class D felony.
Lizotte was arrested in October and charged with first-degree larceny after allegedly stealing cityowned granite curbing while employed as the superintendent of streets.
Police investigated 11 complaints or issues of concern regarding Lizotte, according to a police report issued by the city in connection with the case and as part of an investigation sparked by anonymous letters written to Mayor Elinor Carbone.
Four of these issues were either completely or partially redacted in the report. The others include the alleged theft of profits from the sale of scrap metal and proceeds from the sale of granite curbing; improper use of his city computer; and improper sale of a city backhoe. Only the allegation regarding the stolen and sold granite curbing led to a criminal charge.
The names of employees and charges issued in the letters that were not corroborated through this investigation were redacted from the released documents, according to city officials, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
The severity of the charge against Lizotte was lessened Tuesday — the result of an agreement between attorneys for the prosecution and defense.
Attorney Mark Ouelette, representing Lizotte, said he disputed some aspects of the state’s case, but felt that the disposition was appropriate on the whole.
Attorney David Shepak, representing the state, also said that the disposition was appropriate.
Shepak said the two sides differed over the value of the stolen granite curbing during a hearing on Lizotte’s previous application for a diversionary program.
Police noted that the exact value of the curbing could not be specified as part of an affidavit seeking a warrant for Lizotte’s arrest.
Police seized 101 feet of granite curbstone identified as coming from the city.
Other stone curbing, reportedly purchased by outside parties from Lizotte, had already been used or re-sold, so it could not be recovered, according to the warrant affidavit.
“There were numerous reported sales but only two sales in which the granite was able to be seized and placed into evidence,” Torrington police said in the affidavit. “Based on the quote from O&G (Industries) referencing fair market value, the city of Torrington incurred a loss in excess of $2,525.”
Lizotte pleaded not guilty to the first-degree larceny charge in November. He retired from his position after his arrest.
The City Council voted in November to provide him with an annual pension of $34,700.82, citing a lack of language in the city’s contract with UPSEU, Local 424, Unit 78 — the union representing city employees — to allow the municipality discretion on whether to allocate a pension to an employee convicted of a crime.