The Town of Oxford’s lawsuit against a former tax collector who pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $250,000 of taxpayer money has concluded without a trial.
The lawsuit against the former official, Karen Guillet, had been pending for nearly five years.
Background
The town sued Guillet months after a public corruption scandal that was first alleged in December 2009, when Oxford Town Hall officials began to probe the tax collector’s office.
According to a state police arrest warrant, Guillet was stealing money and cooking the books in Oxford to pay for spa treatments, dog walkers, spending sprees at posh stores —- and weekly deliveries of fresh flowers to her home.
While the lawsuit was pending, state police charged Guillet with first-degree larceny and first-degree forgery in November 2011.
Guillet pleaded guilty to first-degree larceny in July 2012, admitting she had stolen $243,902 from taxpayers.
She was sentenced to serve four years in prison in November 2012.
She was transferred to a Hartford halfway house in March, and was residing there as of Thursday, according to Correction Department records.
Judgment Entered
Last month the town filed a request for a judge to order Guillet to pay $590,094.29 in the civil case, which would be triple the amount she pleaded guilty to stealing, minus $141,612.25, representing $41,612.25 Guillet surrendered from her municipal employee pension, as well as a $100,000 from the town’s insurance company.
Under Connecticut law, those found liable in civil court for thefts are obligated to pay “treble damages.”
In its filing, the town argued that since Guillet pleaded guilty in the criminal case, there was no question as to whether she is liable for the theft.
“As to the defendant’s guilt, there exists no genuine issue as to any material fact, and (the town) is entitled to judgment as a matter of law,” Oxford’s motion for summary judgment in the case reads.
In a ruling Aug. 31, Judge Barry Stevens agreed.
But instead of the $590,094.29 amount requested by the town, the judge set the amount at $405,919.72.
Article continues after the judge’s order.
Reaction
How much of that amount the town will actually collect remains to be seen.
Oxford First Selectman George Temple said that while he disagreed with the amount of the judgment, he was satisfied with the ruling.
He said he’s directed Kevin Condon, the town attorney, to pursue a foreclosure against Guillet’s interest in a Douglas Drive home she co-owns with her husband, as well as try to determine if she has any other assets.
The home was last appraised at $193,900.
“I don’t think the judge’s math was perfect, believe me, but it’s enough to get us to where we can continue on and collect the money,” Temple said. “Basically whatever (interest) she has in the house is going to be ours.”
Temple and other town officials had long claimed that Guillet stole more money than she pleaded guilty to stealing — but found proving that claim more difficult.
“Due to the manner that this matter was initially handled, much of the evidence needed was destroyed by Ms. Guillet,” Temple said in a prepared statement sent to reporters Wednesday. “She was allowed to remain in the Town Hall six weeks after she admitted to the theft of over $3,000. She used that time to attempt to cover her tracks.”
Asked if he was happy to finally draw a line under the matter, Temple said the ruling closes a sad chapter in the town’s history.
“It’s something that’s been a mess, and now it’s up to her to start making good on what she stole,” Temple said. “We’re going to actively pursue every penny we can get. There’s no happiness here, believe me.”
Guillet’s lawyer, Dominick Thomas, said Thursday that he agreed with the judge’s ruling.
“This is a fair resolution given all the circumstances of the civil case,” he said.
