William LaRovera, the former Derby Middle School dean of students accused of bringing narcotics to school, is eligible for a special form of probation that could see his record wiped clean.
But he’ll have to wait until Feb. 28 to hear if a judge in Derby accepts him into the program.
LaRovera appeared in Superior Court today, but his case was continued because prosecutors need more time review documents in the matter.
LaRovera, 35, of Naugatuck, was arrested in September after principal Sally Bonina accused him of bringing narcotics to school.
Police said they found 66 Roxicodone pills, a generic oxycodone, in two plastic bags along with a clear plastic tube that had powdery residue in it. LaRovera resigned on Nov. 3 after he reached an agreement with the Derby Board of Education.
His criminal case has been working its way through Superior Court in Derby since September.
He was charged with narcotics possession, possession of narcotics near a school, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of drug paraphernalia near a school, and failing to store narcotics in their proper container.
LaRovera has applied for two programs: Accelerated Rehabilitation and the Community Service Labor Program.
He is eligible for both programs.
LaRovera’s attorney, Robert Serafinowicz, said he expects LaRovera to be accepted into the programs at his next court date on Feb. 28.
In an unusual twist for a relatively normal narcotics case, Serafinowicz, outside of court, said he has filed a motion to have Judge Burton Kaplan recuse himself from the case. Serafinowicz would not say the specific reasons he filed the motion.
“I believe it’s appropriate under the circumstances based on certain things that have taken place in this case,” Serafinowicz said. ​“My obligation as counsel required it.”
A copy of the motion was not immediately available from Superior Court Friday.
