Norwalk firefighter avoids jail by paying restitution, but may have job taken away

By John Nickerson
Staff Writer Posted: 01/21/2009

NORWALK -- City firefighter Andre Williams avoided a year in jail by paying $12,850 to his former landlord.

Williams was given a suspended three-year prison sentence for issuing $22,000 in bad checks since 2002.

Appearing on Wednesday before Judge Burton Kaplan in state Superior Court in Norwalk, the 23-year veteran firefighter was released without probation.

In November, Williams, 46, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree larceny. In the plea agreement, he promised to pay the money he owed from the bad checks in exchange for a suspended prison sentence and three years of probation.

In May 2006, Williams was given a chance to erase all larceny charges when he was granted accelerated rehabilitation, a diversionary program for first-time offenders. This arrangement required him to stay out of legal trouble, perform 200 hours of community service and pay the $12,850 he owed his landlord, Gregory Sarno.

But when the two-year program ended in May, Williams had not paid Sarno.

The firefighter was paid $92,000 in salary and overtime by the city in 2007 and 2008.

In June, the state's attorney's office reinstated the original charges: six counts of writing a bad check and single counts each of first-degree and second-degree larceny.

"I apologize. I had problems in the past," Williams said at Wednesday's hearing.

Williams' attorney, William Pelletreau, argued against probation, saying Williams was a highly decorated firefighter with many commendations.

"This situation . . . Mr. Williams found himself in a financial bind, to make a long story short," Pelletreau said.

Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Robert Hall said he took no position on whether Williams should receive probation.

"What was the state looking for? Restitution," he said.

In light of Hall's remarks, Kaplan ruled that Williams would not have to serve probation, but the felony conviction will go on his record.

Williams' troubles may not be over.

After his guilty plea to third-degree larceny, a special meeting was called in early December to determine whether Williams would be fired by the city for violating a reinstatement agreement. That meeting was postponed by Norwalk Deputy Corporation Counsel Jeffry Spahr until Williams' sentencing.

In 2005, Williams had been fired by the fire commissioners after he was charged with writing the bad checks.

In December 2006, he was given his job back as long as he fulfilled a reinstatement agreement. Part of that agreement involved Williams resolving his legal problems without a conviction and successful completion of a diversionary program.

Fire Chief Denis McCarthy and Spahr could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

-- John Nickerson can be reached at johnnickerson@scni.com. or 750-5307.