Harwinton man gets suspended sentence in explosion case

TORRINGTON – A Harwinton man received a suspended sentence in Superior Court in last week in connection with a July 2016 explosion that cost a Waterbury man his arm.

Michael Peters entered a plea of nolo contendere to two counts of possession of exploding fireworks and first-degree reckless endangerment as part of a plea deal with the state. As part of the agreement, he received a threeyear sentence, entirely suspended, with three years probation.

State’s Attorney Terri Sonneman said Peters hosted a party on July 9, 2016, during which three men set off fireworks and a Waterbury man was injured.

Henry Weingart, also of Harwinton, received a suspended sentence in connection with the same incident in January.

The pipe was to be used for a fireworks display put on as part of the party. Weingart brought it to the festivities and used gunpowder and materials already at the Harwinton home to create the explosive device, police said.

It was detonated as part of the attempted fireworks display, and the Waterbury man was injured by flying shrapnel from the explosion, according to police. He was brought to the hospital and his arm was later amputated.

A plea of nolo contendere indicates that a defendant has no desire to contest a case and accepts that the state has sufficient evidence to convict them, according to Judge John A. Danaher III. Such pleas lead to a finding of guilt by the court. Such a plea prevents it from being used against a defendant in a future criminal or civil trial.

Peters' defense attorney said the matter was an accident that happened amongst a group of friends and that his client was sorry about what occurred. They are still friends to this day, he said.

Danaher ordered that Peters volunteer in an emergency room on July 4 as part of the terms of his probation.