Two Wilton residents, one believed to be the co-captain of the high school wrestling team, were arrested Saturday after allegedly trying to steal a New Canaan Rams flag from the press box at Dunning Field.
Matthew G. Hill, 18, of Pheasant Run Road in Wilton, and a 17-year old male whose name was not released because he's considered a youthful offender, were charged with third-degree burglary and sixth-degree larceny after they were allegedly caught red-handed with the flag, according to
Both Hill and the 17-year old male were dressed in Wilton wrestling attire and believed to be competing in the FCIAC wrestling tournament at on Feb. 11, according to the police report. Numerous rosters and websites list Hill as a senior co-captain who wrestles in the 140 pound weight class. When reached by phone, Wilton head wrestling coach John Foldeak issued a no comment to Patch.
According to New Canaan Police officials, a security officer working at the wrestling meet, was alerted around 2:19 p.m. that there were two individuals near the press box at Dunning Field. Police officers were contacted and upon arriving at the scene, discovered two males, one of whom was holding a New Canaan Rams flag in his hands. The police report stated the doors to the press box were locked, but the suspects apparently climbed through a window to secure the flag.
According to police officials, both suspects were taken to the New Canaan Police Department to be processed. They were both released on the promise to appear in court. Hill is scheduled to appear in Norwalk Superior Court on Feb. 23 while the 17-year old youthful offender is scheduled to appear on Feb. 22.
This is the second incident at Dunning Field within the last two years. In November 2010, were arrested after allegedly vandalizing Dunning Field.
And maybe i missed it. Did they vandalize the press room? break windows? steal the audio-visual equipment. NO - just a stupid prank to capture the flag. We've all done worse. And on police discretion, they have plenty. But sometimes, they are directed to arrest the alleged criminals because "someone in authority" at the school decided they want to play G-O-D and have them arrested. Where is their discretion??
Here is documentation from the CT Office of Legislative Research: "OLR RESEARCH REPORT August 22, 2007 2007-R-0505 BURGLARY STATUTES By: Christopher Reinhart, Senior Attorney SUMMARY Burglary is punishable under five different statutes. Depending on the conduct involved, it is a class B, C, or D felony." "3RD DEGREE BURGLARY A person commits this crime by entering or remaining unlawfully in a building with intent to commit a crime there. This is a Class D felony." As late as January 2012 OLR reports third degree burglary as a felony. Don't feel alone, the elder print newspaper seems to think it is a misdemeanor, too. Do you mind saying who told you the offense was a misdemeanor? Maybe they are correct and can clarify this issue.
If I follow your strict constructionist thinking, I think the police could have charged this 18 year old student with TWO FELONIES for breaking into the press box and stealing a flag which belongs to the town. To be consistent, then, if a bunch of New Canaan High School Seniors find a way to enter the high school on a Monday through Thursday night and steal all the chalk as a prank, and they get caught, they could be charged with 2 felonies, it looks like. Assuming this as true, it is only fair to let the students know that this is the danger they face even if someone calls the school the next day and tells them the chalk is hidden outside somewhere. Now, there is no use saying this couldn’t happen because the law allows it. I don’t believe many people would think this mascot flag “prank” would involve felony charges, but it did. We need this information broadcast widely and loudly if the police can charge “pranks” this way. Somebody from the police commission or department should publicize their policy. If this is the police department's policy, what happens to New Canaan students in Wilton or other towns if the police catch them in “pranks”. How much wil students trust the in-school police?
Suppressing vital information seems to be a hallmark of local politics in New Canaan. While professing civility and transparency, the highest levels of New Canaan’s executive and legislative leadership suppressed referendum information. Now, police powers are being used to quiet the press. It is true that the press can be noisy and intrusive at times, but is a price we pay for our Constitutional rights. Most of us want Patch to succeed and it needs advertising revenue so our forum can continue. Maybe someone who reads this forum can suggest a better way to protect Patch’s revenue stream. Roy, many of us hope you continue to speak up. Some want all of this to go away and don’t care how they stop it.
A felony is no walk in the park. If the police want to today, they can probably charge toilet papering or shaving cream pranks as malicious mischief, etc. The police were more lenient in your time. Does this look like lenient to you now? And still no explanations for the felony charge. Pranks could be history in New Canaan. Maybe that's good.
Apparently, there are consequences to the felony arrest which may shut off access to institutions which have competitive and difficult entrance requirements. The family will want to hire a lawyer to defend against the felony and misdemeanor convictions and help the defendant apply to have the records expunged at some point. Apparently, if the defendant is successful at getting probation, this, too, might have to be disclosed to the institution to which the student is applying. One alternative which may help society’s view of the defendant is for him to enlist in the Army and complete a successful tour of duty. Scholastic institutions may look on this favorably, too. There are, probably, many parents and students who have no idea what this felony arrest means. They look nostalgically at their past and think things are the same today. They are not the same. The crime rate is low in New Canaan because law enforcement is strict. This felony arrest will increase the town’s FBI crime count and show everybody that the police mean business and are very tough.
Mary, people are deleting this post. Parents should discuss this with their children. Is there anyone out there who objects to this? Patch pulled it down by request and not on their own. If parents want to google “felony arrest” “law school” or “felony arrest” “medical school” or “felony arrest” “student aid”, they will find valuable information. Apparently, there are consequences to the felony arrest which may shut off access to institutions which have competitive and difficult entrance requirements. The family will want to hire a lawyer to defend against the felony and misdemeanor convictions and help the defendant apply to have the records expunged at some point. Apparently, if the defendant is successful at getting probation, this, too, might have to be disclosed to the institution to which the student is applying. One alternative which may help society’s view of the defendant is for him to enlist in the Army and complete a successful tour of duty. Scholastic institutions may look on this favorably, too. There are, probably, many parents and students who have no idea what this felony arrest means. They look nostalgically at their past and think things are the same today. They are not the same. The crime rate is low in New Canaan because law enforcement is strict. This felony arrest will increase the town’s FBI crime count and show everybody that the police mean business and are very tough.
If a Wilton coach was involved and this incident rises to felony level, then maybe a felonious conspiracy charge should be lodged against the coach. If the law holds an 18-year old responsible, then why does the coach skate? Why isn't Patch all over this? Do they think the weekly establishment paper will address it? Are New Canaan students going to be held to strict standards which are kept in secret or do these only apply to people from out of town?
“Five teens were arrested Saturday for allegedly stealing five flags from South Benson Marina. Mitch Reynolds and Shawna Dehoff of Bethel and Brian Manere of Oakville, all 18, as well as a juvenile and a youthful offender (both of Bethel) were charged with third-degree criminal mischief and sixth-degree larceny. They each allegedly took one flag and fled the marina, police said. A security guard called in the thefts and an officer on patrol noticed a car full of teens and flags on Newman Place, where he stopped and apprehended the teens. The value of the five flags totaled $500. The youthful offender and juvenile were released on promises to appear in court on July 12. The other three were released on promises to appear in court on July 19.” These charges are B and C misdemeanors. On a day when we celebrate the beginning of our country and when American flags abound, it is interesting that in February the iconic New Canaan mascot flag “theft” got both a misdemeanor and a felony charge, while our national standard only generates misdemeanor charges in Fairfield even though the $ amount is larger. Looks like Fairfield is softer on crime than New Canaan or the Norwalk prosecutor is tougher, or both.
http://www.jud2.ct.gov/crdockets/CaseDetail.aspx?source=Pending&Key=2ee4a87e-bafb-42a4-a868-eee8886be7ab
The Rebecca Young info says there is an accelerated rehabilitation program in the works but nothing for Matthew Hill. Hill was charged with a D felony while Young was charged with a C felony. Why is the C felony in an accelerated rehabilitation mode and nothing going for the D felony? I am not asking or implying that the accused be treated more harshly but just to try to understand how this is being approached. Extraordinary strictness should be accompanied by extraordinary clarity to be fair, in my opinion.
The Norwalk Court Clerk's Office indicates that all charges against Matthew Hill have been dropped and the State declined to prosecute (nolle prosequi). Even if the record is expunged, there are still consequences to this felony arrest. It would be interesting to hear how the police feel about being rebuffed and what is the explanation by the relevant Assistant State Prosecutor. Maybe a judge was also involved and overruled the prosecutor. All this information should be available to citizens in a strict law and order environment.
We will see. Perhaps this level of civic discourse is a huge waste of time. If it is, then we can move on to more interesting subjects like who has the nicest driveway, which fire engine is the shiniest or whether Planning and Zoning will require corrosion-resistant alloys in the screws of all business district signs.