Robert Grabarek Accepts Plea Deal In Fairfield Fill Pile Case : Report

FAIRFIELD, CT — Environmental consultant Robert Grabarek, who rejected a plea deal in July, reversed course last week and accepted a plea deal in the Fairfield fill pile case, avoiding a trial, CT Insider reported.

Grabarek, owner of Clinton-based Osprey Environmental Engineering LLC, was hired by the town to clean up the site, but he is alleged to have dissuaded Department of Public Works employees from using hazmat suits and protective equipment while working at and around the fill pile, because he said it would alarm residents.

His company had been hired to construct a berm around the contaminated fill pile, but then directed that toxic materials be used to build the berm, according to prosecutors.

Under the plea deal, Grabarek will reportedly receive a three-year suspended sentence, two years of probation, and an order to pay the town up to $1 million in restitution. Superior Court Judge Robin Pavia will sentence Grabarek in late-November.

The previous plea deal, which he rejected, reportedly called for prison time and restitution of $3 million to the town.

Additionally, Grabarek is also facing a lawsuit filed by the town, which claims his company did not obtain federal approvals for the berm cleanup.

Garbarek is the final defendant in the criminal portion of the fill pile case. Here is information on the other defendants:

• Scott Bartlett, the town's former public works superintendent, is currently serving a five-year sentence at the Robinson Correctional Institution in Enfield, a medium-security facility. He was sentenced twice, once for the Owen Fish Pond portion, and the second for the main component of the case. Those sentences are running concurrently. He also owes the town $1 million in restitution. He is paying the town more than $4,000 per month; the amount is half of his monthly pension payments.
• Joe Michelangelo, Fairfield's former public works director, pleaded guilty to several charges and testified against the others in the case. He is free on a promise to appear in court, and is awaiting sentencing. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 9.
• Robert Mayer, the town's former CFO, pleaded guilty in October, but avoided prison time; he received an 18-month suspended sentence and three years of probation.
• Developer Jason Julian was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and is serving time at Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution (in the Cybulski Community Reintegration Center) in Somers. He also owes the town a total of $2.5 million in restitution; he has paid $1.5 million so far.
• Brian Carey, the town's interim public works director, and Emmet Hibson, the town's former human resources director, were recently granted accelerated rehabilitation. They each must complete 240 hours of community service, and each pay the town a little over $28,000 in restitution.

Read the CT Insider story.

Fairfield fill pile case:

• Bribery Charges Dropped Against Julian In Fairfield Fill Pile Case
• First Trial In Fairfield Fill Pile Case In Jury's Hands
• 2nd Fairfield Fill Pile Defendant Reportedly Rejects Plea Deal
• Fairfield's Years-Long Fill Pile Saga Continues With New Arrests
• 'Don't Talk To The Police': Details From Fill Pile Affidavits
• Ex-First Selectman Among Fill Pile 'Co-Conspirators,' Records Say
• 4 Fairfield Fill Pile Scandal Defendants Denied Probation
• Fairfield Residents Encouraged To Write Fill Victim Statements
• Fill Pile: Penfield Pavilion Repair, Remediation Could Cost $13M
• 3 More Charged In Fairfield Fill Pile Contamination Investigation