by Staff Report
DANBURY, CT — A Connecticut lawmaker is due in Danbury court Tuesday for his arraignment on a larceny charge after a shoplifting incident in Bethel a week ago.
State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan, D-Bethel, who also represents parts of Danbury and is serving his fourth term, was arrested by Bethel police June 23 and charged with sixth-degree larceny, a misdemeanor.
“During a recent visit to the Bethel Target, two items in my armload of others were not scanned,” Allie-Brennan said in a statement posted to his Facebook page. “I was in a rush to bring items to my grandmother in the hospital, the store didn’t have bags, and I was juggling multiple purchases.”
Allie-Brennan is accused of leaving the store without paying for two items worth a total of $26.69. He said he takes full responsibility for the error and is working through the legal processes to resolve the matter “quickly and respectfully.”
“I respect the law and Target’s right to enforce their loss prevention policy, and I remain committed to serving my community with transparency and integrity,” he said.
So far, Allie-Brennan has faced no disciplinary consequences with his legislative assignments. He serves as chief majority whip and is on the Energy and Technology, General Law and Insurance and Real Estate committees.
House Speaker Matt Ritter said he has spoken to Allie-Brennan about the incident.
“He recognizes the high standard to which I hold our members and is taking responsibility for inadvertently leaving the Target self-checkout without scanning several items,” Ritter said in a statement.
Target staff told police that Allie-Brennan was recognized from “prior unreported larcenies,” but police would not provide any further details and Allie-Brennan did not address those accusations in his statement.
He was issued a summons and released on a promise to appear in court.