Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • Page 93

ED' '93 THE HARTFORD COURANT: Tuaiday, July 24, 1984 FCC Clears Way for WETG Broadcasts STATE BRIEFS O'Neill Requests Attendance Report By JOE FAIIY Courant Staff Writer Gov. William A. O'Neill Monday asked for a report on the attendance record policies of the state Department of Income Maintenance. He made the request In response to state auditors' accusations that the department has failed to monitor employees' attendance and to keep accurate records. Deputy Commissioner Marv R.

Nakashian said the report would detail policy changes made since the auditors cited the department for falling to keep proper records in 1982. the FCC's Video Services Division. The phenomenon most frequently occurs when a TV signal is blocked by a nearby mountain, water tower or large building, Godfrey said. But, he said, "We are not aware of any situation where it has happened because of a second TV tower." In March, the Farmington Plan and Zoning Commission approved construction of the tower, contingent on FCC approval. Because WETG indicated it would begin building before receiving the FCC's ruling, the commission asked that the station post a bond to cover the cost of removing the tower if the application were denied.

FCC officials said Monday WETG would become one of about 50 of the signals using 5 million watts of power to serve all of Connecticut, except for Fairfield County. WETG is targeting the Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury areas, Chase said. "Naturally, we're very thankful permission has come through," Chase said Monday. "I'm just sorry this needless legal exercise had to be gone through," he said of Channel 30's challenge. 1 WVIT had claimed that the tower, which will be built about 1,000 feet from Channel 30's tower, would interfere with proper reception of the WVIT signal in parts of the station's Hartford service area.

The interference, called "ghosting," causes double images to appear on the television screen, said Gordon Godfrey, senior engineer for me department now requires employees to sign weexiy statements documenting their work hours and to obtain formal approval for time off, Nakashian said. Each employee's accrued personal, vacation and sick time now is recorded at the beginning and end of each month, she said. The auditors wrote O'Neill July 19, after the commissioner of income maintenance, Stephen B. Heintz, notified them that a managerial employee had taken 5Mi days of paid leave without authorization and had been unable to document that she was owed the time. The manager was fired.

Johnson To Confer on Trident Cut approximately 700 UHF stations in the United States operating at maximum allowable power. Channel 30's output is 3.02 million watts, and it reaches viewers in the Hartford and Springfield areas, a station engineer said. Chase claimed that WVIT, an NBC- affiliate, had filed its objections with the FCC earlier this year to delay the independent station's going on the air. Both stations have been bidding for the right to broadcast a number -of the same syndicated programs, he said. WVIT has the right to appeal the FCC decision within 30 days, Godfrey said.

WVIT officials could not be reached for comment Monday. Jury Hears Final Pleas In Wood Trial Continued from Page Bl jury found him Insane when he killed his ex-wife, Rosa Wood, but convicted him of capital felony, which carries the possible death penalty, In the murders of Voli and Lisa. The jury then heard several days of testimony and evidence concerning Wood's sentence. The prosecution tried to portray him as a killer who murdered his victims in a particularly cruel manner and endan U.S. ReD.

Nancv L. Johnson. R-6th District, said Monday she would meet today with Navy officials to protest a proposal to eliminate construction of a Trident submarine during fiscal year 1986. Johnson said officials of General Dynamics Electric noai division in Groton, where the Trident submarines are built, estimate the move could cost the company 2,000 jobs and have a ripple effect throughout the Connecticut economy. In the 6th District, which covers the northwest quarter of the state, the work cutback would affect numerous subcontractors, notably machine-tool shops, Johnson said at a State Capitol news conference.

A decision by the Federal Communications Commission has cleared the way for WETG, Channel 61, to begin broadcasting from the tallest television tower in the state Sept. 17, station officials said Monday. The commission rejected a request by representatives of WVIT-TV, Channel 30, to deny a permit to build the tower in Farmington, saying WVIT had "not demonstrated how the public Interest will be harmed" by granting the application. Arnold Chase, president of Arch Communications of Hartford, WETG's license holder, said the tower would broadcast Accusations By Runaway Bring Arrest By BILL RYAN Courant Staff Writer A Hartford man with a history of sex offenses involving young girls is Ireing held on $150,000 bond on charges that he made a 15-year-old runaway girl provide sex for a Hartford lawyer last month. Robert Lizotte, 39, of 115 Beacon St.

also is charged with providing cocaine for the girl, who told authorities she was present when two other Connecticut lawyers bought cocaine from Lizotte last month, Hartford State's Attorney John M. Bailey said Monday. Bailey said an investigation into the girl's allegations has been given "high priority." He said he has assigned investigators from his office to supplement Hartford police and FBI agents working on the case. Bailey said he would not identify the lawyers allegedly involved unless they are arrested. At present, he said, the allegations against the lawyers have not been substantiated.

Authorities began investigating Johnson said tne proposal wouia oe consiaerea oy me Lreiense Resources Board, possibly this week. She said the proposal, aimed at trimming defense costs, Is "fiscally irresponsible," because interruption of the Trident construction schedule could inflate costs the next year as much as $500 million, the Navy estimates. City Man Charged in Slaying A 24-year-old Hartford man was charged Monday in the weekend shooting death of another city man, in what police believe was a rilsmita nvpr rime deal. Jose Diaz of 1 12 in the Dutch Point housing project was arrested at 12:57 a.m., when he surrendered to police. He was being held on $100,000 bond.

nia7 is rharired in the death of Hector Rivera. 32. of 23 in the Dutch Point housing project. Rivera's body was found in the public housing project at 9:15 p.m. Saturday.

He had been shot In the head and neck, police said. They said the incident appeared to be drug-related, but did not eiaDorate. Proceedings Begin in Aillon Trial gered the lives of policemen sent to the scene of the killings; the defense presented him as a basically good man with a troubled past and mental problems aggravated by the breakup of his marriage. Wood's sentence execution or life imprisonment will depend on which version the jury believes. Appleton argued Monday that he had proved two of the statutory grounds for execution, so-called "aggravating factors." He said Wood had killed Voli and Lisa "in an especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner," and that he created "a grave risk of death" to police sent to the upper-income West Hartford neighborhood where Wood committed those killings.

"The fact that in the commission of these crimes, the victims knew they were going to die is an aggravating factor. That's cruel. That deserves the death penalty," Appleton told the jury. He said Voli was struck with two non-fatal shots first, and tried to flee from Wood before she was killed. Lisa, he said, was forced to spend more than a hour with her stepfather and to have sexual relations with him before she was killed.

NEW HAVEN One juror was chosen in the triple-murder trial of Guillermo Aillon as the state's longest-running criminal proceeding reopened in New Haven Superior Court Monday. Aillon is charged with killing his estranged wife, Barbara Montano Aillon, and her parents, J. George and Bernice Montano, in their North Haven home in 1972. The 45-year-old East Hartford man has already been tried twice in the case. In the first trial, in 1973, the jury's guilty verdict was thrown out on a technicality.

The 1979 retrial ended with a deadlocked jury. State's Attornev Arnold Markle and public defender Donald Dakers Paula Bronsteln The Hartford Courant rejected five prospective jurors, and Judge William Hadden excused two more. Sixteen jurors must be chosen in a process that Hadden CASUAL CONVERSATION Henry Rivera, 13, calls for a ride home from Quonnipaug Lake in Guilford, where he and a friend, Keith Ansaldo, 15, have been swimming. Both boys live in Guilford. estimated will take two weeks.

O'Neill Applauds Poll's Findings Walsh Gets Big Welcome Gov. William A. O'Neill Monday hailed a poll showing the Democratic presidential team of Walter F. Mondale and Geraldine A. Ferraro edging ahead of President Reagan and Vice President George Bush, "Is there anything more cruel than.

but said he did not expect the surge to last. "I think it's great," O'Neill said at a State Capitol news conference. the sexual relations? Anything more heinous? More depraved?" Appleton said. "Can you imagine what hap "The American people are now getting a chance to look at two excellent candidates for the first time as a team. And I think they're pened in that hour? starting to appreciate what a team it is," he said.

"What was going on in Lisa's mind before she was shot to death exe The poll, taken late last week by the Gallup Organization for Newsweek magazine, reflected voter sentiment during a week in which the Democratic National Convention produced daily headlines and the party nominated the first woman to run for vice president on a cuted?" he said. Appleton discounted defense claims that Wood's life as an abused and neglected child left emotional major party ticket. O'Neill said he expected the Reagan-Bush ticket, which has led in the scars that led to the killings. polls for months, to pounce pack after the Republican National "How many people out there come the oase after the girl told police in Waterville, Maine, last week that Lizotte had supplied her with cocaine and liquor, had sexual relations with her and then took her to Connecticut. Hartford police arrested Lizotte in Maine Wednesday on a warrant issued by Bailey's office.

They brought him to Connecticut to face charges of injury or risk of injury to a minor and promotion of prostitution. He was arraigned Friday in Hartford Superior Court on Morgan Street. The girl told police she had met Lizotte in June in She said Lizotte took her to Connecticut June 5 and later introduced her to a Hartford lawyer who took the girl to his apartment to have sex. The lawyer paid Lizotte $100, she said. Another lawyer, she said, would get cocaine "all the time" from Lizotte, police said.

At the time of the alleged activities, Lizotte was free on a $80,000 bond pending his appeal of convictions last Jan. 23 on drug and sex charges involving a girl with whom Lizotte had had relations over a two-year period since she was 8 years old, court records show. He was sentenced to prison terms totaling 10 years on those charges. Lizotte had twice received suspended sentences after being convicted of sex offenses involving other young girls, records show. Friday, Bailey asked that the new charges against Lizotte be transferred to Hartford Superior Court on Washington Street, where the state's attorney's office is located.

He first asked Judge Francis R. Quinn to revoke Lizotte's $80,000 appeals bond from the January conviction. But Gerald M. Klein of Hartford, Lizotte's attorney in that case, said he had a conflict and could no longer represent Lizotte in the bond-revocation move. Bailey emphasized that Klein is not a suspect in any of the allegations.

Bailey asked that a $35,000 bond on the new charges against Lizotte convention in August. from Droken homes? Appleton said, "I still think it's an uphill struggle. I don't think there's any question of that," O'Neill said. But he said he expected the race to become close "How many people haven't gotten tne love they desire? Are we a socl- ety that has a double standard for atter LaDor uay. Democrats Re-Elect 2 From State tnem, tnat tney get a free ride?" But Smyth said Wodd's childhood should lead the jury to be merciful Continued from Page Bl sonal friend of Walsh's, as he munched a piece of victory cake.

"I think he's the man for the job," said Ronald DeBiase, a roadside vendor, as he handed out free frankfurters to City Hall employees Monday to celebrate Walsh's return. Earlier, Walsh stopped off at City Hall for a closed-door meeting with Paoletta, where the two agreed to try to get along now that the court has given Walsh his job back. But the hatchet was not buried. "The confidence I do not have in Joe is not restored by the court decision." Paoletta said. "Things are going to have to be different." For his part, Walsh, who has headed the Police Department for 22 years, conceded that his long trial on more than 100 charges of mismanagement did bring out a few "deficiencies" in the department, specifically that several known felons had been granted gun permits in violation of state law and that access to the police records room was probably too liberal.

Those situations will be corrected with guidance from mayor and the Police Commission, Walsh said. But, he quickly added, "I'm not going back to sit in a corner and collect a paycheck." After the meeting with Paoletta, Walsh waited on the steps of City Hall until precisely 9 a.m. when his reinstatement order took effect and headed across the street to police headquarters. Waiting out front was Walsh's family and that of his attorney, James F. Stapleton, as well as supporters wearing oversized buttons that read "Let's Help Superintendent Walsh A Good Cop." Upstairs city officials did not contest Walsh's celebrating in his old office waited a bouquet and an enormous sheet cake.

With their hands joined, Walsh and his wife, Christine, cut the first slice. "We're going to Port Jefferson on our honeymoon," Walsh quipped. A ferry runs between that Long Island community and Bridgeport. Downstairs, police officer Ted Meekins arrived for work at police headquarters without fanfare. As head of the Guardians, an organization of black police officers who are strongly critical of Walsh, Meekins conceded disappointment at Walsh's return, but not defeat.

"This is (Walsh's) moment in the sun," Meekins said with a glance upstairs. "But the fun is just beginning." and decide against execution. Peter G. Kelly of Hartford was re-elected national finance chairman and Marv B. Sullivan of Greenwich was re-elected to the executive "If Steven Wood had not been committee at the Democratic National Committee's meeting Friday abandoned by his father neglect in San Francisco, Sullivan said Sunday.

ed by his mother If Steven Wood had not been warehoused in institu Sullivan said she and Kelly are the only people from Connecticut on the 38-member executive committee, which bandies the business of tions If Steven Wood had been the national committee between Its regular meetings. loved and nurtured and cared for, he They will serve until a new board is elected after the presidential never would have done what he did, Inauguration next year, she said. Smyth said. He also emphasized trial from seven mental health ex- Look-Alike To Play Camp Courant nerts. all of whom even the nrose- cutton's agreed that Wood Joby Rogers, winner of a statewide Michael Jackson look-alike suffered from some sort of mental disorder, although they differed contest, will highlight activities at Camp Courant this week during a performance today at 10 a.m.

Rogers, who beat out more than 100 contestants in the competition last month, will perform "Thriller," "Billie Jean" and a third Michael Jackson tune, said the camp director, Don King. Other special events this week at the summer camp for inner-city youngsters will include a visit by staff members of the Children's 'Wish List' Donors Give $47,894 Museum of Hartford. They will present an educational program about animals Thursday at p.m. danger to society" and should not be Compiled from staff and wire service reports. widely on its nature and severity.

While conceding that his was a difficult argument to make, Smyth said Wood's crime was not the extreme sort for which the law reserves the death penalty. "Certainly, many things about Steven's crime are offensive to anyone, to all of us," he said. "As bad as it is, it is not as bad as if Steven Wood had entered another home and killed strangers at random; it Is not as if he used sadistic physical torture; it is not as if he killed for pleasure." He denied that the police were ever in danger. Only two shots were fired while the house was surrounded, both inside, and not toward the officers. Those were the shots that killed Lisa.

Wood could continue to contribute to society, Smyth said, even from prison. Court Restores Jury Award Thlrman L. Milner said Monday. "But all the forces could not be pulled together in time Michael J. Scricca, the city budget analyst who has been running the progam with Cowan said, "The response was not as strong as we expected.

We may have been naive. We did not run an aggressive, sustained effort to get people to participate." Although the program is formally over, Scricca said the city would accept donations for the rest of the summer. When Neil Cowan tossed the idea of a "Wish List" campaign into the well and hoped for $2 million worth of donations to the city, the Hartford resident may have aimed a little too high. Nearly two months after its inception, the program ended about a week ago, bringing Hartford $47,894 in cash and other donations. Although city of ficlals are pleased with the effort, some say it could have" generated more.

"Any donation through the program is good for the city," Mayor out on the street. Quinn set the bond at the higher figure, and Lizotte was taken to the Hartford Correctional Center. Bailey said he would ask at a hear-ing Aug. 3 that the $80,000 appeal bond on Lizotte's conviction last January be revoked and that Lizotte be sent to prison immediately for the 10 years of his sentence. Bailey said he is giving special attention to the case because of the allegations involving lawyers and drug dealing.

Court Rejects Conviction in New Haven Cocaine Case jury last year found Gould negligent in the accident. The Supreme Court said evidence showed that gravel had been imbedded in Dominic's chin and forehead by the accident Dominic also suffered a concussion and severe cuts on her forehead, nose, cheek, chin and right shoulder. Campbell, the justices said, testified that he suffered three broken toes, had two fingernails ripped off and tore a hole in his left thumb. Both Campbell and Dominic said they had been unable to work for several weeks. Writing for the Supreme Court, Justice David M.

Shea said that a trial judge's opinion that a jury award is unfairly large does not establish the award as excessive. "In considering a motion to set aside the verdict as excessive, the court should not act as the seventh juror with absolute veto power," he wrote, adding that the job of the judge is Ho determine the evidence reasonably supports the jury's verdict. i By GEORGE GOMBOSSY Courant Staff Writer The state Supreme Court Monday overturned a Superior Court judge's decision to reduce a jury's award In an accident case and ordered that two former Torrington residents, receive all the money the jury awarded. Superior Court Judge M. Morgan Kline last year reduced the jury awards to Debra Dominic, 25, and James Campbell, about 27, saying the "verdict so shocks the sense of justice as to compel the conclusion" that the jurors were Influenced by a "mistake." The award of $39,700 to Dominic was reduced by $9,700 and the award of $7,885 to Campbell was reduced by $2,885.

The two now live in Albany, N.Y. The suit stemmed from a May 19, 1979, accident in Torrington. Campbell was operating a motorcycle, on which Dominic was a passenger, when it collided with a car operated by Michael Gould of Torrington. The close the nature of past crimes when deciding to admit Into evidence a defendant's record, unless the crimes directly reflect on credibility, such as perjury. "That is great," Geyer's attorney, Bruce A.

Sturman, public defender, said in reaction to Monday's ruling. Sturman said his client already has served a little more than two years of a 5V4- to 11-year sentence, and that be would try to free his client as soon as possible. The disclo By GEORGE GOMBOSSY Courant Staff Writer The state Supreme Court Monday threw out the cocaine-sale conviction of a 48-year-old New Haven man, saying he had not received a fair trial because his previous drug-related convictions had been disclosed to the jury. The justices said it was proper for the jury to have known that Albert Geyer previously had been convicted of four felonies, so they could evaluate thycredibility of Ms testimony. But iuas improper iell the jury his convictions had involved narcotics, they said.

"Here, the most obvious effect of the defendant's prior narcotics convictions was to establish a pattern of chronic disregard for narcotics laws," Chief Justice John A. Speziale wrote. "Despite the trial court's efforts to limit the jury's consideration of those convictions to credibility, they created inevitable pressure on lay jurors to believe that 'If he did it before, he probably did so this The justices ordered a new trial for Geyer, who was arrested May 22, 1980, in a New Haven bar. The arresting officers testified that, when they entered and identified themselves, Geyer dropped a vial containing 18 packets of cocaine to the floor. Geyer, however, said he did not' have any drugs on him.

He said the New Haven police officers had planted the cocaine. The justices said Geyer's case was the fourth in recent history in which trial judges erroneously permitted juries to learn too much about a defendant's criminal record. The justices suggested that judgejfctake the "prudent course" and noVdJl" sure about the previous narcotics convictions "probably had a signifi cant impact on tne jury, aiur said..