Scott Bartlett Pleads Guilty In Fairfield Fill Pile Case

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Scott Bartlett, Fairfield's former public works superintendent who already received a prison sentence in another aspect of the case, pleaded guilty in connection with the town's fill pile illegal dumping scandal and now faces five years in prison.

Bartlett pleaded guilty Thursday to several felony charges — under a plea deal with prosecutors — including illegally operating a solid waste facility, conspiracy to receive solid waste at an illegal facility, first-degree larceny, illegally dumping PCBs, second-degree forgery and other violations.

When sentenced in November by Judge Tracy Lee Dayton in Bridgeport Superior Court, the same judge who presided over his case in the Owen Fish Pond illegal dumping component of the case, he will likely receive a five-year prison sentence. The 18-month sentence he already received under the similar Owen Fish Pond charges will run concurrently with the new five-year sentence.

Bartlett spent about a week in prison following the July 18-month sentencing, but he is appealing that sentence. He is out of custody, because he was able to post a $350,000 bond while the appeal is pending.

In addition to the new five-year plea deal, Bartlett will also forfeit half of his $8,900 per month pension for 20 years, up to $1 million, as restitution to the town. The cleanup and remediation of the contaminated soil and fill that was illegally dumped throughout Fairfield for years under the fill pile scandal is expected to cost the town millions of dollars.

Standing before Judge Dayton on Thursday, with one of his sons in court, Bartlett's raspy, halting voice could barely be heard as he told the judge that he understood the plea deal and was agreeing to it under his own volition.

Bartlett and his attorney, Fred Paoletti, quickly exited court without commenting following the hearing.

After the hearing, the lead prosecutor in the case, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Tamberlyn Chapman, declined to comment on the plea deal, but the guilty plea is another victory for the prosecution. Bartlett is the second defendant to plead guilty in the case, joining former Fairfield public works director Joe Michelangelo, who pleaded guilty last November.

Michelangelo is testifying for the prosecution in the case; whether Bartlett will also testify against the other defendants was not disclosed.

"We're grateful for the work of law enforcement and the prosecution in this case," Fairfield Town Attorney James Baldwin told Patch following Thursday's hearing. "It's bringing more justice to an unfortunate situation, but this is certainly not the end."

Absent Bartlett and Michelangelo who have pleaded guilty, the other defendants in the fill pile case are:

• Former Fairfield conservation director and interim head of public works Brian Carey
• Former Fairfield human resources director Emmet Hibson
• Robert J. Grabarek, an environmental contractor hired by the town
• Former Fairfield chief financial officer Robert Mayer
• Jason Julian, co-owner of Julian Enterprises

As Patch reported three years ago, Julian was hired by the town in 2013 to operate a fill pile and reduce the amount of unused project material on the site by 40,000 cubic yards, but instead, the pile grew significantly larger. Additionally, contaminants were discovered on the property.

Julian was supposed to pay the town rent on the property, but did not, according to prosecutors, and Bartlett and others were charged, because they allowed this to happen and allegedly tried to cover it up.

The trial involving the remaining five defendants is scheduled to begin with jury selection on Sept. 11.