Hartford Councilwoman Applies For Special Form Of Probation

Hartford Republican Councilwoman Veronica Airey-Wilson applied for a special form of probation today/yesterday.  She was arrested with former Mayor Eddie Perez last year and charged with faking payment to a city contractor for work done on her home. WNPR’s Jeff Cohen reports.

 

Airey-Wilson says she sent a $420 check to contractor Carlos Costa for the countertops he put in her kitchen pantry. But Costa says he never the check and that the work was worth more like $1,500.  And as for the check that Airey-Wilson gave to the state as proof that she paid?  The state says she faked it.

 

Airey-Wilson refused to comment after a court hearing.  Steven Seligman, her attorney, says she wants a judge to give her a special form of probation - called accelerated rehabilitation - that would not include an admission of guilt. 

 

“Veronica Airey-Wilson has applied for accelerated rehabilitation because the risks of a trial, even on a weak case, are too great. If the state does not object, she will serve a short probationary period and then the charges will be dismissed.”

 

If that happens, Airey-Wilson could be on probation while serving on the city council.  Seligman says that wouldn’t be problematic.

 

“The voters of the City of Hartford know what’s serious and what isn’t serious and they will, as is their right, make an assessment based on all of the evidence including what they hear from the state and from the defense on October 21.”

 

That’s the date Judge Julia Dewey – the same judge who heard the Perez case – will take this matter up. So far, three people wrapped up in the Perez corruption case have applied for this kind of probation -- two have gotten it.

 

For WNPR, I’m Jeff Cohen.