A drug-addicted Shelton teen who was supposed to be sentenced Tuesday for a litany of criminal charges didn’t show up for his court date.
Judge Burton Kaplan then ordered the re-arrest ordered 19-year-old Andrew Delventhal.
“He leaves me no choice,” Judge Kaplan told Delventhal’s grandparents, who were present in Superior Court.
Delventhal has 16 criminal charges pending. He now faces up to 15 years in jail, according to Judge Kaplan.
The most serious criminal charges involve stolen weapons. According to an arrest warrant, Delventhal stole three handguns from his grandfather in Shelton. Two guns were sold to Valley Firearms in Shelton — one for just $10.
A third handgun was recovered at a house in Monroe. Delventhal had traded that weapon for a tattoo, according to an arrest warrant.
Court documents state that Delventhal has a substance abuse problem and had been receiving treatment at a methadone clinic. He had allegedly been abusing prescription pills and PCP.
Craig Coulombe, Delventhal’s attorney, said in court Tuesday that his client’s family believes he is having an “emotional breakdown” and may be suicidal.
In addition to not appearing for his sentencing, Delventhal violated the terms of a court-ordered substance abuse treatment program. Judge Kaplan received a letter Tuesday from Connecticut Renaissance Inc. stating that Delventhal had been drinking alcohol.
In addition to ordering a re-arrest, Judge Kaplan raised Delventhal’s total bonds to $215,000.
