Court Adds Charges, Raises Bail for Accused Newtown Bank Robber

Shane Parsons, the Newtown man accused of robbing three banks, a game store and burglarizing more than half dozen homes, had his bail increased to $400,000 after he was officially charged in connection with the Naugatuck bank robbery and Middlebury home burglary.

Wearing an orange jumpsuit, a rail-thin Parsons, 36, appeared in front of Judge Richard A. Damiani on Wednesday in state Superior Court in Waterbury to answer to charges that he allegedly committed the June 15 Naugatuck Savings Bank heist, the June 12 Middlebury home burglary and June 17 Webster Bank robbery in Waterbury.

Parsons was scheduled to appear in court originally to answer to charges of first-degree robbery, first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, third-degree larceny and third-degree conspiracy to commit larceny in connection with the Waterbury heist. But while in court, he was served with arrest warrants for the Naugatuck and Middlebury crimes.

He has been additionally charged with first-degree robbery, third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny in connection with the Naugatuck Bank robbery in which he was accused of stealing more than $1,000 by passing a note to the teller demanding money and saying he had a weapon.

Parsons also faces a charge of conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary for allegedly trying to burglarize a home in Middlebury before a relative of the homeowner interrupted him, officials said.

Although Newtown police said they intend to serve an arrest warrant on Parsons for the alleged robbery of the Newtown Savings Bank on June 17 and Game Stop store on June 13 and burglarizing six homes from March through May, the warrant has not yet been served on him, court officials said.

A suspected accomplice, Carl Valluzzo, 37, formerly of Bethel,  also appeared separately in court where he too was served with arrest warrants in connection with the Naugatuck and Middlebury incidents. Authorities accused him of being the getaway driver.

In total, Valluzzo faces two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, two counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary.

While Valluzzo, who wore a Yankees Jorge Posada T-shirt, shuffled into court looking for any family or friends who had come to see him, and finding none, Parsons casually strode in with his head held high.

During the proceedings, he politely asked the judge questions about his case, namely whether at his next court appearance, he would answer to charges in all three incidents or whether they would be separate.

Damiani told him they would be combined, and that officials would find out the exact date Parsons would re-appear in court before sending him back to the New Haven Correctional Center where he is being detained.

"Thank you, your honor," Parsons replied.

Damiani also raised Parsons bail by $50,000 to $400,000 in light of the additional charges, but denied a request by Eva Lenczewski, supervisory assistant state's attorney, to raise the bail amount even more.

Lenczewski had argued Parsons allegedly had a history of failing to appear and escaping from custody in the past. Damiani replied that raising the bail to $800,000 was more common in cases of murder or causing serious injury to someone else.

Parsons appeared grateful.

"Thank you, your honor," he said.

Parsons and Valluzzo who gave separate statements to police about their involvement in the incidents also are to be represented by two different public defenders.

They are scheduled to return to state Superior Court in Waterbury on July 23.