Mawhinney released from prison again
Judge lowers bond for defendant in Jennifer Dulos case who was accused of trying to cut off GPS device during previous release
STAMFORD — Kent Mawhinney, charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the death and disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, was released from custody Thursday after a Superior Court judge lowered his bond.
Mawhinney, who was taken back into custody in October on $1.5 million bond after he was accused of tampering with his mandated electronic monitoring device, appeared at the state Superior Court in Stamford for a bond reduction hearing Thursday.
His attorney, Jeffrey Kestenband, argued that his client had gone more than two years without violating the conditions of his release.
Kestenband argued his client’s previous bond of $246,000 was more than sufficient to ensure his client appear in court in the future.
Supervisory State’s Attorney Michelle Manning objected to the motion to reduce the bond, arguing that Mawhinney had “actively tried to violate the court’s orders” by trying to cut off the GPS device that he is required to wear around his ankle.
“It is such an extreme step Mr. Mawhinney took and a blatant disregard of court orders. To go now, two and a half months after his bond has been raised and go back to where his original bond, in the state’s view, doesn’t take into account the act that raised his bond to begin with,” Manning said.
After hearing arguments, Judge Gary White said that while he viewed Mawhinney’s previous actions “very unfavorably,” he was willing to be “firm but fair” and lower the bond back to $246,000.
But, White warned, that if Mawhinney were to return before the court for noncompliance again, he wouldn’t be so lenient.
“If he doesn’t get the message after this, after what he did, I’ll take the appropriate action,” White said.
Mawhinney will now be on house arrest, GPS and electric monitoring, as well as other intensive probation services under his revised terms of release.
Mawhinney, who has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, had his case placed back on the trial list following Thursday’s hearing.
Mawhinney is accused of aiding Fotis Dulos in the disappearance and death of his estranged wife Jennifer Dulos by trying to provide an alibi for his friend the morning she went missing on May 24, 2019. The New Canaan mother of five is presumed dead by police and her family although her remains have not been found.
Mawhinney and Michelle Troconis, the former girlfriend of Fotis Dulos, are the remaining defendants in the case. Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020 while facing murder, kidnapping and other charges in the case.
Troconis has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution. Troconis, who is free on $2.1 million bond and is being monitored by a GPS device, is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 23.
Prosecutors have indicated that Mawhinney, who decided in January to take his case to trial, will testify against Troconis if she goes to trial.
Arrest warrants detail how investigators believe Mawhinney attempted to create an alibi for Fotis Dulos.
Mawhinney was also connected with an East Granby gun club where witnesses told investigators they found what they thought was a “human grave” leading up to the disappearance, according to his arrest warrant. Investigators wrote in the arrest warrant that the hole was later covered up and no remains were found at the site.
Mawhinney briefly eluded state police on Jan. 7, 2020, as they sought to take him into custody, officials said. He was later apprehended at gunpoint during a Tolland traffic stop.
Fotis Dulos was believed to have been “lying in wait” for his estranged wife at her New Canaan home after she dropped off their five children at school around 8 a.m. on May 24, 2019, according to an arrest warrant. Investigators said Jennifer Dulos was the victim of a “serious physical assault” in the garage of the home. The state’s chief medical examiner determined she suffered wounds that were not survivable without immediate medical attention.