New Larceny Charges For Scott Bartlett: Fairfield Police

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield's former superintendent of public works — already facing a long list of charges in the investigation of corruption and contamination at the town fill pile — is now charged with additional counts, police announced.

Scott Bartlett, 58, was arrested Tuesday and charged with one count of first-degree larceny and two counts of second-degree larceny, police said in a Facebook post.

The investigation resulting in the new charges focused on Bartlett's illegal use and misappropriation of funds from the bank account of a mentally challenged person whom Bartlett had conservatorship over, according to police. Investigators believe Bartlett misused the account by co-mingling funds and making illegal withdrawals for his personal use, police said.

Attorney Fred Paoletti, who is representing Bartlett in the fill pile case, declined to comment.

"At this point I have not had an opportunity to speak to Mr. Bartlett or review the materials," he said.

Chief of Police Christopher Lyddy and Division of Criminal Justice spokesman Mark Dupuis did not immediately respond Tuesday to calls seeking comment.

A search warrant application first reported by Patch in November detailed how bank records from January 2013 to August 2019 for a GE Credit Union account contained evidence of embezzlement and money laundering. The account belonged to the adult daughter of a deceased public works employee, the affidavit said. The woman is mentally disabled and Bartlett and his wife, Ann Bartlett, were appointed in probate court to manage her affairs as of 2013.

In 2019, two credit union employees contacted police about suspicious transactions on the account, including "extremely large" deposits, a large withdrawal and excessive cash withdrawals, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit also noted that between 2014 and 2016, the Bartletts were more than $1 million in debt, owing hundreds of thousands in mortgage payments, plus thousands more in credit card bills and taxes.

Scott Bartlett turned himself in to the Fairfield Police Department and was released on a $35,000 bond with a court date of Feb. 10, according to police.

This case will be prosecuted by the Office of the Chief State's Attorney in Rocky Hill.

"I appreciate the effort of law enforcement to bring to justice those who have violated the public trust, and the health and safety of our community," First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said in a prepared statement.

Scott Bartlett is already charged with forgery, larceny, receiving kickbacks, dumping and more in the fill pile case. Also charged in the case are former public works director Joe Michelangelo, former chief fiscal officer Bob Mayer and Julian Companies Owner Jason Julian, whose business was hired to manage the site in 2013. Bartlett, Michelangelo and Mayer have been fired from their town jobs. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.

Fairfield's contamination crisis dominated headlines and public meetings for months in town after the first round of charges were brought in August. Around the same time, contaminants tied to the town fill were reported to police at a local park. Since then, more than 70 areas in Fairfield have been tested for contamination. The vast majority have been deemed safe, but some sites were found to contain asbestos, arsenic and additional contaminants.

The town has also received violation notices from the state and federal government regarding PCB contamination and lack of permitting at the fill pile site, and is working to develop a response plan.

Fairfield has sued Julian for millions in damages and Julian has sued the town for defamation.