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Two of the more notable figures in Bridgeport’s absentee ballot scandal rejected plea deals Tuesday.
Former Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee Vice Chairman Wanda Geter-Pataky and current city council member Alfredo Castillo opted to take their cases to trial, although their lawyers did not rule out reaching a deal in the future.
Each defendant is facing dozens of charges related to elections going back to 2019.
State police say Geter-Pataky, also a former city employee, was captured on video illegally possessing absentee ballots and placing them into a drop box during the 2023 mayoral primary between Mayor Joe Ganim and challenger John Gomes.
The video was a key piece of evidence that prompted a judge to order a redo in that election, which Ganim won.
Both Castillo and Geter-Pataky were Ganim supporters.
Castillo was the first to reject his offer: eight years in prison, suspended after two-and-a-half years, followed by three years of probation.
Castillo’s attorney, Frank Riccio, said in Bridgeport Superior Court that he was looking for a more lenient sentence.
“Since the last court date, I have spoken with [prosecutors] about alternatives that I requested the state would consider,” he said. “At this time, the state is resting on the last offer that they made.”
If convicted on all counts, Castillo faces up to 165 years in prison. Outside court, Riccio simply told reporters the case is now awaiting a trial date.
Geter-Pataky rejected a similar offer: eight years in prison, suspended after three years, followed by three years of probation.
If convicted on all counts, she could receive up to 500 years in jail.
She and her lawyer, John Gulash, said little inside the courtroom, but Gulash also indicated to reporters that the deal was too much.
“I’m not going to really get into the inner discussions, simply that as far as we’re concerned we were not accepting – my client was not accepting the offer from the state,” he said.
No trial date was set for Geter-Pataky, either.
While both are pushing for little to no jail time, some advocates in Bridgeport think a harsh punishment is warranted.
“It seems very clear that they took it upon themselves to harvest ballots and change the outcome of Bridgeport’s elections,” Bridgeport Generation Now Founder and President Callie Heilmann said.
She said a strong punishment could deter other campaign workers from engaging in the same behavior.
Heilmann noted that other municipalities have dealt with election-related crimes in recent years and called on lawmakers to tighten up Connecticut’s laws.
She specifically wants a ban on ballot harvesting, which is when campaign workers handle voters’ absentee ballots or applications.
Republicans have also pushed to ban the practice, but Democrats have been resistant. They say enforcement of existing laws, including tough penalties, will deter people from breaking the law.
| # | Наименование новости | Тональность | Информативность | Дата публикации |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ex-senator charged in investigation into handling of absentee ballots during Bridgeport primary | 0 | 8.51 | 06-10-2026 |
| 2 | Former CT senator charged over alleged Bridgeport absentee ballot violations | 0 | 7.97 | 01-01-1970 |
| 3 | Video in warrant shows former CT state senator directing voter to change absentee ballot | 0 | 7.79 | 01-01-1970 |
| 4 | Suspect fired shots through door at police in Bridgeport, officer returned fire | 0 | 4.62 | 02-09-2026 |
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| 6 | Bridgeport police investigate attempted home invasion | 0 | 5.45 | 26-09-2026 |
| 7 | Kosta Diamantis sentenced to 7 years in prison on corruption charges | 0 | 6.43 | 30-09-2026 |
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| 9 | Voters assured CT election system is secure | 0 | 4.79 | 01-10-2026 |
| 10 | No misuse of funds found in Hartford Public Schools forensic audit | 0 | 6.16 | 07-10-2026 |