ExNavy JAG joins Fotis defense team

La Tronica began legal career with Pattis

STAMFORD — A former Navy Judge Advocate General who started his private defense attorney career with Norm Pattis has joined the team representing Fotis Dulos.

Attorney Chris La Tronica was also on the defense team with Pattis in the case of Tony Moreno, convicted in 2017 of dropping his 7monthold son off a Middletown bridge in a revenge murder.

La Tronica, who practices in Connecticut and New York, has filed an appearance in state Superior Court in Stamford to represent Fotis Dulos on charges related to his wife’s disappearance. Jennifer Dulos was last seen five months ago after dropping off the couple’s five children at a New Canaan school on May 24.

"There's no such thing as too much talent on a legal team, so we're adding this brilliant young lawyer to prepare for the fight to come," Pattis said Thursday.

Pattis said La Tronica will also help him with the Alex Jones case.

Pattis has mounted a vigorous defense of Fotis Dulos, 52, who, along with his former girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, 44, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution charges.

Pattis is also appealing to the state Supreme Court to overturn a gag order issued in the case. Pattis is expected to file a 40page brief by Monday’s deadline outlining his reasons the Supreme Court should overturn the gag order.

On Sept. 12, Judge John Blawie, who is overseeing the criminal proceedings, granted State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo’s request for a gag order in the case. Blawie wrote in his order that “pervasive information or misinformation in the social media age” could prevent a fair trial in this type of highprofile case.