February 4, 2013

Attorney General George Jepsen has filed a complaint in Hartford Superior Court seeking to revoke or reduce the pension of a former Redding highway superintendent who was convicted of a larceny charge last month.

Bruce L. Sanford of Redding pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree larceny and was sentenced on January 17, 2013. Mr. Sanford was employed by the Town of Redding from July 1990 to July 2011 and served as the town’s highway department superintendent.

While employed by the town, Mr. Sanford embezzled public funds for repairs and parts for his antique truck and a lawn mower. Additionally, he sold multiple vehicles owned by the municipality and kept the proceeds. He is currently serving a five year prison sentence, to be suspended after three months, in the state’s correctional system, to be followed by three years’ probation.

“Theft from a municipality or the state is a serious violation of the public trust,” said Attorney General Jepsen. “Taxpayers should not be responsible for the pension of someone who is found or pleads guilty to stealing public funds. Under state law, my office has the authority to seek to revoke or reduce a public pension when a state or municipal official is convicted of a crime related to their position and, as such, we are exercising that authority in filing this action.”

Under state statute enacted by the General Assembly in 2008, the Attorney General is authorized to initiate a civil action seeking reduction or revocation of the pension of any state or municipal official who, in state or federal court, is convicted of or pleads guilty to a crime related to their state or municipal office on or after October 1, 2008.

Any state or municipal official convicted on corruption-related charges – defined specifically in the law as embezzling public funds, committing felony theft from the state, bribery in connection with one’s service as a state or municipal employee, or committing a felony with intent to defraud in order to obtain a profit, gain or advantage for themselves or someone else – could face court action to reduce or revoke their pension.

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