Lawsuit charges sexual assault

Warner Theatre, Thomaston Opera House director alleged to have abused three teenage girls in theater program

BRIDGEPORT — A critically acclaimed director in the state’s community theater circuit is accused of using his position to sexually assault three young women.

According to a lawsuit filed in Superior Court in Waterbury, Daniel Checovetes cast the thenteens in roles and then sexually assaulted them.

“Checovetes used their love of theater to place the girls in roles in his productions as part of his grooming process to gain their trust and have access to them,” said attorney Jason Tremont, of the Bridgeport law firm Tremont, Sheldon, Robinson and Mahoney.

In addition to Checovetes, the women, now in their 20s, are suing the Naugatuck Teen Theater,

the Landmark Community Theatre, the Warner Theatre and the Thomaston Opera House.

Checovetes, 42, of Southington, currently director at Little Theatre of Manchester, did not return calls and emails for comment.

The accusations are beyond the statute of limitations for criminal charges.

Jeff Dunn, manager of the Landmark Community Theatre, declined comment on the lawsuit. The other theaters did not return calls and emails for comment.

Checovetes has received accolades for his musical productions at theaters around the state.

In 2009, the three young women were 14, 16 and 17 respectively. Two were aspiring actresses and singers. The third wanted to be a theater lighting specialist. They

enrolled in the Naugatuck Teen Theater, a youth program in Naugatuck open to all seventh- through 12thgrade students from surrounding communities, according to the lawsuit.

The suit states that Checovetes first had contact and interactions with the victims through their participation

and performance in teen and community theater. The assaults took place between 2009 and 2016 at the theaters or performance spaces as well as other locations, it alleges.

“It is no coincidence that Checovetes was heavily involved in and directed teen theater. This gave him unique access to underage teens whom he groomed and then sexually abused,” said Tremont.

The lawsuit also alleges that, prior

to the abuse of the victims, the theaters were aware that some of their employees were arrested and convicted for possession of child pornography.

“It appeared it was an open secret within the theater community. The culture was such that we believe adult participants knew but chose not to report the abuse. This is the same community that welcomed back a known sex offender,” Tremont said.