REPEAT PERFORMANCE? MAN CHARGED A SECOND TIME WITH DAMAGING ATHLETIC FIELDS

Old Lyme — A man who allegedly caused $5,600 in damage to Lyme-Old Lyme High School athletic fields in 2014 again has been charged with driving on a field at the school and damaging it.

Police said Connor H. Robbins, 27, of 16-1 Baily Road, used a Subaru Impreza to do doughnuts on the newly-renovated baseball field on the night of Saturday, Jan. 19.

The principal, James Wygonik, told police the damage would cost about $1,600 to fix.

Using surveillance video footage from the school, police gleaned the license plate number and learned the car was co-registered to Robbins and his father, Sheldon Robbins.

Police contacted Sheldon Robbins, who said his son was the sole user of the car. He told police he “could not believe this was happening again.”

The father said he would cooperate with the investigation and would pay for the repairs. He encouraged his son to also speak to police, but his son, who has since retained a lawyer, never did.

Police charged Robbins on March 13 with second-degree criminal trespass and first-degree criminal mischief. Released on a $10,000 bond, he is next due in New London Superior Court Thursday.

Police in 2014 accused Robbins, 23, at the time, of using his father’s car to damage the football, lacrosse and soccer fields. He has no criminal record stemming from the case.

In Connecticut, many firsttime offenders are accepted to a program known as accelerated rehabilitation, which can lead to the dismissal of their charges if they meet certain conditions.