Homeless man Charged with Coercion in Vernon

VERNON, CT — A homeless man was arrested in Vernon on Sunday for the rare charge of coercion police said.

Daniel Candella, 30, was also charged with second-degree breach of peace, according to an arrest report.

The Incident began at the Springville Mill apartment complex in the Rockville section of Vernon and Candella was arrested at the Red Roof Inn on Route 30, police said.

A police department veteran said it was the first ti me he had even seen the charge. Coercion is a Class A misdemeanor or class D felony.

The definition is:

A person is guilty of coercion when he compels or induces another person to engage in conduct which such other person has a legal right to abstain from engaging in, or to abstain from engaging in conduct in which such other person has a legal right to engage, by means of instilling in such other person a fear that, if the demand is not complied with, the actor or another will: (1) Commit any criminal offense; or (2) accuse any person of a criminal offense; or (3) expose any secret tending to subject any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or to impair any person's credit or business repute; or (4) take or withhold action as an official, or cause an official to take or withhold action.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel