ANSONIA – The state assigned a public defender to represent Harry Danley, a city employee accused of stealing about $25,000 from an elderly resident, court records show.
Danley was due to appear in court Dec. 15 on a charge of first-degree larceny. It’s the eighth time the case has appeared on the court’s docket. He was assigned a public defender that day, according to court records.
Danley was arrested in June. In the months since, both Danley and a daughter of the alleged victim have spoken to The Valley Ind.
Laura da Fonte, the daughter, said in November that she believes Danley is stalling. Danley said at the time that he was not stalling, and that he hoped to pay back the alleged victim in full on the Dec. 15 court date.
Police allege Danley convinced da Fonte’s mother to write him ten checks between 2022 and 2025. Danley allegedly described the payments as loans to improve a home he hoped to sell, although most of the money has not been paid back.
Danley has acknowledged in Valley Indy interviews that he borrowed money and missed deadlines to pay the money back. However, he said the payments were done transparently, and that he still intends to pay.
Danley ran for mayor as a petitioning candidate in 2023. He also ran for Second Ward Alderman as a petitioning candidate this year. Both campaigns were unsuccessful.
His next court date is Feb. 2 at Superior Court in Derby.