Plea Agreements Rescinded in Case of Glastonbury Couple Accused of Abusing Boys

A Superior Court Judge allowed two men accused of sexually assaulting two of their nine adopted boys to withdraw their no-contest pleas and take their cases to trial Friday.

George Harasz and Douglas Wirth, of Glastonbury, appeared in court Friday for a sentencing that would have ended with suspended prison sentences for the couple, who each pled no-contest to a single felony count of risk of injury to a minor. The only issue expected in Friday's sentencing was whether or not the two would be required to register on the state's sex offender registry.

But new allegations of sexual against Harasz by one of the victims, as well as new allegations of abuse by three of the couples' children, led to the plea agreement being thrown out during Friday's sentencing.

Prosecutor David Zagaja said that the possibility of new charges would make continuing with the agreement imprudent.

"I think the only proper resolution of this matter is to try it," Zagaja said.

Defense attorneys for the two men agreed, saying that a trial was necessary for the men to clear their names.

Harasz and Wirth were first arrested in November 2011, after allegations surfaced that the married couple had abused two of their nine adopted children. The boys were 5 and 15 years old at the time, according to their court affidavits.

The warrants for the couple’s arrest allege that the boys were touched inappropriately, sexually assaulted, and physically abused. Some of the alleged abuse included forced labor, beatings, being physically restrained and being forced to sleep in closets.

The men adopted nine boys through the Department of Children and Families beginning in 2000. They received two waivers from DCF to exceed the limit for adopted children in one household, first in 2006 and then in 2008.

The boys were removed from Harasz and Wirth’s home after the investigation began in February 2011.

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