Willimantic Man Charged In Mansfield Jewelry Store Caper

MANSFIELD, CT — A Willimantic man has been charged in connection with incidents at two eastern Connecticut businesses, including a jewelry store in Mansfield, state police said.

At 9:35 a.m. Thursday, Kwitzpatrick Duffany, 37, of Willimantic, was served a pair of felony warrants at Rockville Superior Court, state police said.

One involved an investigation into a commercial burglary at a jewelry business in Mansfield on May 25, state police said. Investigators had "a positive DNA hit" for Duffany based upon articles left behind at the scene, including a black bag containing a box cutter, according to a warrant.

The name of the store was redacted from a warrant.

After the burglary, the store owners discovered damage to a utility room that cause several inches of eater to leak onto the floor.

In the case, Duffany was charged with

• Third-degree burglary
• first-degree criminal mischief
• Second-degree criminal trespass

Duffany was issued a $75,000 court set bond in the case.

On May 31, state troopers responded to a report about suspicious people at a convenience store in Ashford. State police said the investigation led to the discovery of a stolen firearm at the business and Duffany accused of a robbery attempt.

He was charged in the case with:

• Criminal possession of a firearm
• Stealing a firearm
• Third-degree identity theft (5 counts)
• Conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery
• Carrying a firearm under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Possessing a weapon in a motor vehicle
• Carrying a pistol without a permit
• First-degree attempted robbery

Duffany was issued a $175,000 court set-bond for this arrest and was subsequently turned over to the custody of the Judicial Marshalls for same day arraignment.