As a Shelton man entered pro-forma not guilty pleas to charges he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl, a judge ordered a van from the crime scene released to the suspect’s girlfriend.
Albert Boria, who’s 28, appeared in Superior Court in Milford last week before Judge Richard Arnold.
Boria, whose last known address was Howe Street in Shelton, was arrested on Sept. 27 and charged with first-degree sexual assault and three counts of risk of injury to a child. According to police, Boria gave marijuana and alcohol to the 12-year old and two 14-year-old girls in September. He had sex with the 12-year-old later the same day, police said.
At the time of his arrest, Boria was out on parole after serving prison time for selling narcotics, according to State’s Attorney Kevin Lawlor.
On Thursday, Boria’s girlfriend and mother showed up in a second-floor courtroom to see his first appearance in Judicial District court, where more serious crimes are tried. The case was delayed for over two hours while the court waited for Boria’s attorney, Ira B. Grudberg of New Haven, to appear.
At 12:20 p.m., a marshal swung a side door open, revealing a glimpse of Boria in the hallway, peering through a window to see his mom and girlfriend. At 12:40 p.m., marshals escorted him out into the court for the hearing. He wore khaki pants and a gray sweatshirt revealing a neck tattoo.
As is standard procedure in more serious criminal cases, Boria entered a not guilty plea to each of his four charges. Defendants can change their pleas to guilty at a later time; they often delay doing so in attempt to make a plea deal with the state.
Boria’s attorney requested that the court release a 2002 blue Dodge Caravan back to its owner, Boria’s girlfriend. The van, which was the location of the alleged assault, was being held as secondary evidence. Judge Arnold complied.
The judge appointed a guardian ad litem to represent the interests of the alleged victim.
Boria is being held on a $200,000 court-set bond. In the case that he posts bond and is released from state custody, he is ordered to have no contact with any complainants in the case, and to stay 100 yards away from them. His attorney, Grudberg, said the likelihood of Boria raising the money for his release is “questionable at best.”
Judge Arnold set a new court date for Dec. 13.
In the hallway, Boria’s girlfriend awaited the return of her vehicle. She clarified that the suspect is named Albert Boria Sr., not Jr., as police had initially identified him. Albert Boria, Jr. is their son’s name, she said.
