The New Haven Register reports that Waterbury State's Attorney John A. Connelly is said to be the subject of a federal grand jury investigation. The investigation centers around his relationship with local defense attorney Martin Minnella. Authorities are looking into whether Connelly's ties with Minnella may have gotten improperly close.
A partner in the law firm of Moynahan & Minnella, Attorney Minnella is a 36 year veteran of law practice in Connecticut and is a founding member of the Connecticut Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. Connelly has been in practice for 32 years.
According to the firm's website, Attorney Minnella has been featured in People Magazine and was a featured guest on Good Morning America and the subject later became a TV movie starring Kevin Bacon. You might remember Minnella as the attorney representing former disgraced Waterbury mayor Joseph Santopietro. Sources indicate that federal authorities are exploring the possibility that Connelly may have had improper close ties with Minnella. Questions include whether prosecutorial behavior in certain court cases may have been influenced with gifts, vacations and other enticements. Reports inidicate that records have been seized from both Minnella and Connelly. Tom Carson, a spokesman at the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Haven, said only, "We can neither confirm nor deny the existence of a grand jury investigation."
As a criminal defense attorney and fellow member of the Connecticut Bar, one could only hope that there is no creedence to the allegations as this story unfolds. Our judicial system tends to grant the benefit of the doubt. The Nutmeg Lawyer does the same.
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- Having trouble figuring out why the prosecutor doesn't like you? Wondering why other attorneys get better deals? It's probably not payoffs and vacations. The answer might be looking back at you in the mirror. You might want to read one of our older posts: Maybe He's Just Not Into You. Why the Prosecutor Doesn't Like You?
2 comments:
Wow - is anybody really surprised at a story about crooked lawyers in Waterbury? I'm hoping this opens the storm gates - Waterbury is loaded with crooked lawyers.
The law has no provisions for a single instance of personal data breech, I am interested in tort under the state attorney general's office to include more then injuctive relief, statuatory damages or attorney fees relief any suggestions?
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