Guilford police arrest owner of Amarone Restaurant

Officials say Barna Lengyel stalked an employee

GUILFORD — The owner of a restaurant on Water Street has been arrested on charges of stalking and harassing one of his employees days after he was charged with possession of child pornography, officials say.

In a release, the Guilford Police Department said Barna Lengyel, aka Bruno Banani, the 53year-old owner of Amarone Restaurant, was arrested on Monday.

Police said Lengyel was charged with two counts of voyeurism, eavesdropping, first-degree stalking, electronic stalking and risk of injury to a minor. They said he was arraigned at state Superior Court in New Haven on Monday and $250,000 was added to his bond, which was already set at $500,000 for his other charges.

Police said the charges are the result of an ongoing investigation into what was initially reported to be a harassment complaint against Lengyel by an employee. They said the victim reported that they were dating Lengyel in return for him supporting their family financially.

Prior to filing a complaint, police said, the victim discovered that Lengyel had placed a camera inside their residence to secretly record their bedroom. They said the victim also found that Lengyel was in possession of an intimate photograph that had been taken at their place of employment without their knowledge.

Police said the victim quit working for Lengyel after making the initial report to police, adding they obtained a full restraining order against him. They said Lengyel attempted to use other employees to facilitate contact with the victim while that restraining order was in effect.

Those attempts included dropping off groceries, money and a cellphone, police said, adding Lengyel also met the victim near their residence to provide money for rent and to proposition the victim for sexual activity at a local motel.

Police noted they executed search warrants on Lengyel’s restaurant and his Wallingford residence during that initial investigation, and during those searching found child pornography, as well as evidence of voyeurism targeting the victim.