This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Charges Against Old Saybrook Public Works Director Dismissed

Charges of sexual assault and breach of peace against Old Saybrook Public Works Director Lawrence Bonin were dropped earlier this month. First Selectman Carl Fortuna said the town will make a decision on Bonin’s future soon.

On Oct. 28, 2022 Bonin was arrested by Old Saybrook Police Department (OSPD) and charged with sexual assault in the fourth degree and breach of peace in the second degree. Bonin was immediately placed on administrative leave by the town following the arrest.

However, on Aug. 8, 2023 the charges against Bonin were dismissed according to his attorney Christopher Morano.

“Mr. Bonin has been a dedicated public servant in Old Saybrook for decades; this arrest caused him great concern and embarrassed him,” Morano said.

Morano said that in presenting its defense to the state prosecutors, the defense team provided an alibi for Bonin for one of the days the alleged offense was said to have occurred. Morano said the state then declined to move forward with the case and the defense asked for a motion to dismiss the charges.

“The essence of that is Mr. Bonin is completely cleared of these charges,” Morano said.

When Bonin was charged, the town initiated its own investigation of the matter. At a Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting on Aug. 22, First Selectman Carl Fortuna said that Berchem Moses, the law firm the town hired to run the independent investigation, would conclude its investigation within a week. Fortuna also said that he would be meeting with Bonin and his union representatives on Thursday, Aug. 24 (after press time for this article).

“Larry will remain on administrative leave until we conclude our internal investigation which should occur within the next few days,” Fortuna told the Harbor News on Aug. 22.

Fortuna told the BOS that he would be consulting with the town’s labor attorney about what the next steps are toward making a decision on Bonin’s future. Fortuna also said he would check with the attorney over whether he alone or the BOS as a whole has the authority to make a decision over Bonin’s future in response to a question from Selectman Matthew Pugliese. Fortuna said he would keep the BOS informed of the next steps.

He added he expected a decision about Bonin’s future to be made within a week, which is after press time for this article. Harbor News and Zip06.com will have more information when it becomes available.

The Allegations

Following Bonin’s arrest in Oct. 2022, Harbor News filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking any documents related to the arrest and received an arrest warrant from OSPD. According to an affidavit from Officer Stephanie Milardo, the arrest stemmed from several alleged interactions between an unnamed person, referred to only as Victim One, and Bonin that occurred between November 2021 and April 2022 at the Old Saybrook Transfer Station. Victim One reported the allegations to OSPD in June 2022, prompting police to open an investigation.

According to the affidavit, Bonin allegedly made a series of inappropriate and unwanted sexual comments toward Victim One over several months. Milardo wrote that Victim One further alleged that Bonin took actions such as intentionally blocking the victim’s car in.

According to Milardo, cameras at the transfer station only retain footage for 45 days. By time OSPD attempted to review the footage, more than 45 days had elapsed from most of the alleged interactions. Milardo also said she attempted to view footage of one alleged incident, but the camera did not cover the area where the episode was said to have happened.

In interviews with Milardo, other public works employees denied seeing or hearing any of the alleged allegations against Bonin.