Ex-Bridgeport BOE member accused of kidnapping wants new lawyer
MILFORD — A former Bridgeport school board member accused of attempting to kidnap his wife’s 21-year-old son at gunpoint while posing as a police officer told a judge he needs a new lawyer due to “creative differences” with an attorney who had been representing him.
Chris Taylor, who served on the Board of Education for six years before opting not to run again in 2021, appeared briefly before Milford Superior Court Judge Peter Brown in connection with the attempted kidnapping case, which dates to a Nov. 23, 2019 incident in Seymour.
A prosecutor had offered Taylor probation and a suspended jail sentence in September to resolve the charges.
In court Wednesday, Taylor’s lawyer, Arthur Ledford, asked the judge to let him withdraw from the case, saying their relationship had broken down.
“It’s just not working out, your honor,” Ledford said. “There is a lot of animosity, a lot of distrust.”
Ledford was appointed as a special public defender in the case after another attorney that had been representing Taylor moved out of state.
Taylor’s wife, Stacy, has also been charged in the case, and is also represented by a public defender.
Brown asked Taylor, who has posted $100,000 bond in the case, if he intended to seek another special public defender.
“I would like that opportunity if that’s possible, your honor,” Taylor said, citing his “creative differences” with Ledford.
The prosecutor in the case said it seemed like Taylor could just be trying to delay the case.
“My concern at this point is he goes and applies for another SPD, gets assigned another SPD, doesn’t like the offer or however that person represents him, and now we’re on to another motion to withdraw,” Assistant State’s Attorney Marc Durso said. “If he wants to hire another lawyer that’s certainly his right, but I just see a revolving door. It’s almost like the defendant is trying to play a game.”
Taylor said he “respectfully disagreed” before the judge cut off further discussion.
Brown said he didn’t have any choice but to grant Ledford’s motion to withdraw from the case, and told Taylor he could apply for another special public defender.
The judge asked Taylor if he wanted the offer kept open until his next court date, to which Taylor replied that he didn’t understand the offer, after which Durso repeated the terms: a suspended three-year prison sentence and three years of probation if Taylor pleads guilty to criminal impersonation of a police officer, first-degree threatening, and third-degree assault — two felonies and a misdemeanor, respectively.
“What about the release of charges against my wife?” Taylor asked
“This is in regards to you and your own case,” the judge said. “Your wife has her own case, so let’s stay on track.”
Hen then continued the case for a month and told Taylor to be ready to move forward one way or the other.
“Thirty days and we’re going to see what’s happening with regards to representation,” the judge said. “But if nothing’s happening this is going to be sent … to start picking trial dates.”
Taylor also faces charges of third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace in connection to an alleged road rage incident in Fairfield where he is accused of punching a 17-year-old boy in the face in August.
In the Seymour case, he has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree kidnapping, attempted second-degree kidnapping with a firearm, impersonating a police officer, third-degree assault and risk of injury to a child.
On Nov. 23, 2019, Seymour police said officers were dispatched to an apartment building on Pearl Street for a complaint of an assault. When officers arrived, Taylor and his wife had fled, police said.
The landlord later told officers he had received a call from a man who identified himself as a police officer with warrants for the arrest of the victim, police said. The landlord said the man on the telephone told him both he and a female officer would be arriving at the apartment building to arrest the victim.
Police said Taylor and his wife soon arrived in front of the apartment building and Chris Taylor told the landlord that other officers had the street blocked off. Police said the landlord then let Stacy Taylor into the apartment where she grabbed the victim and put his arm behind his back, taking him out of the building to where Chris Taylor was waiting by a car.
“I heard yelling and fighting as the three exchanged words,” police said the landlord told them. “I got behind my car because I was scared someone was going to start shooting.”
As the victim fought to get away, the landlord told police he heard Chris Taylor yell, “Stop or I’ll pull my weapon.”
Police said the victim told them Chris Taylor was trying to force him into their car.