Former Chester First Selectman Candidate Arrested on Fraud and Larceny Charges
By: Charles Stannard
CHESTER— Charles “Chuck” Della Rocco, the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for first selectman in the Nov. 3 town election, was arrested by state police Thursday on forgery and larceny charges.
Della Rocco, 41, was arrested on a court warrant and charged with second degree forgery and third degree larceny/fraud by computer or phone. Della Rocco turned himself in Thursday afternoon at the Troop F barracks in Westbrook and was later released on a $1,000 non-surety bond for a Nov. 17 appearance at Middlesex Superior Court in Middletown.
Della Rocco, a former Old Saybrook police officer who currently serves on the Chester Board of Education and the Chester Democratic Town Committee, was defeated in the election by Republican First Selectman Tom Marsh on a 758-465 vote.
Della Rocco currently works as a police officer for the state Judicial Branch, providing security at the State Library/Supreme Court building in Hartford. Rhonda Stearley-Hebert, a spokeswoman for the Judicial Branch, said Friday Della Rocco would be assigned to desk duty “with no police powers.” when he returns to work next week. She said department officials are currently “gathering information,” on the charges against Della Rocco.
The charges were filed after an investigation of a complaint from a neighbor, Peter and Cheryl Lynch of Turkey Hill Road. The investigation that began in July focused on allegations that Della Rocco had allegedly borrowed a pick up truck from the couple, and later sold the vehicle to another person using the Craigslist website.
Della Rocco, contacted Friday, referred questions to his attorney, Hartford lawyer Paul Spinella. Spinella could not be reached Friday for comment.
Marsh said Friday he is “surprised and disappointed” to learn of Della Rocco’s arrest. Marsh said he learned of the allegations involving Della Rocco during the summer from the Lynches, adding that town Republicans never raised the subject during the fall campaign because they did not have complete information on the situation.
Marsh also contended that various members of the Chester Democratic Town Committee were aware of the allegations involving Della Rocco when he was nominated for first selectman at a July 27 caucus. Top town committee members could not be reached Friday for comment about the situation involving Della Rocco.
Mario Gioco, chairman of the Chester Republican Town Committee, has sent a letter to three Democratic state elected officials who endorsed Della Rocco at appearances in Chester during the fall election campaign. In the letter, Gioco asks state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Comptroller Nancy Wyman, and Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewciz whether they were aware of the investigation of Della Rocco when they made the endorsement and appeared at local fundraisers for his campaign.
