A Fairfield man accused of hitting two police vehicles at the conclusion of a wrong-way chase up Route 8 during which he was allegedly impaired has applied for diversionary programs that, if granted, may eventually result in the charges against him being dismissed.
The man, 55-year-old Thomas Plesz, appeared briefly before Judge Peter Brown at Superior Court in Derby Wednesday (April 6).
Background
He was arrested Jan. 27 after state police said he led troopers on an approximately 33-mile chase from Shelton to Thomaston driving the wrong way on Route 8.
Toward the end of the chase, state police said rammed a police car trying to stop him, then rear-ended another a second police car that had pulled in front of him to slow him down.
The chase ended around exit 38, after which cops charged Plesz him with assaulting a public safety officer, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving the wrong way on a divided highway, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, disobeying signals from police, and interfering.
Case Continued
In court Wednesday, Plesz’s lawyer, Public Defender Diana Gomez, told the judge that Plesz had been found eligible for accelerated rehabilitation and the alcohol education program, two diversionary programs available to first-time offenders.
If defendants complete the programs successfully, criminal charges against them are dismissed.
It’s up to a judge to decide whether to grant a defendant entry into the diversionary programs, after a hearing at which prosecutors and any victims are given the opportunity to object.
The judge can also impose conditions like community service.
Click here for more information from the state Judicial Branch website.
Gomez asked the judge Wednesday to continue the case, saying she was waiting on discovery materials from prosecutors.
A prosecutor did not object to the continuance.
Judge Brown then continued the case to June 15.
“All conditions of release remain in effect,” the judge told Plesz, who is free on a $5,000 nonsurety bond.
The judge noted Plesz is being monitored electronically by probation officials.
If there are any other conditions to Plesz being released, they’re a mystery, at least to the public — along with any other information contained in the court files concerning Plesz’s case.
That’s because when defendants apply to such programs, their court files are sealed, per state law.
Gomez declined to comment on the case Wednesday afternoon.
