Meriden Man Pleads Guilty To Child Porn, Sexual Exploitation Charges

MERIDEN, CT — Anthony Lazzari, 48, of Meriden, pleaded guilty Monday in New Haven Superior Court to 16 sex offenses related to three juvenile victims, according to New Haven State’s Attorney John P. Doyle Jr.

A trial in one of the cases was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 12, according to Doyle.

Doyle said Lazzari entered guilty pleas in connection with all three victims’ cases. The charges range from commercial sexual abuse of a minor, first-degree promoting prostitution, enticing a minor, third-degree possession of child pornography, fourth-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor and patronizing a prostitute.

Pursuant to the agreement, Doyle said Lazzari faces up to 20 years in prison, execution suspended after eight years served, and 10 years of sex offender probation. The agreement also requires Lazzari to register as a sex offender for a period of 10 years following his release, according to Doyle.

“According to court records, Lazzari provided cash, marijuana and alcohol on a number of occasions to two female victims, ages 14 and 16 years old, in exchange for the females kicking him in the groin,” officials wrote in a news release. “Lazzari also offered items of value to these victims in exchange for sexual intercourse. Lazzari also used the social media photographs of one victim to create an escort advertisement in an effort to find customers for this victim to engage in sexual activity with for money.”

Doyle said the third victim was a 9-year-old girl, who was depicted in pornographic still images found on one of Lazzari’s electronic devices.

Doyle extended his “gratitude to the Meriden Police Department for their investigative efforts, as well as the Division of Scientific Services (DSS) and the Computers Crimes Unit of the Connecticut State Police within the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), in association with members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force,” the news release states.

Lazzari is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 6.