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Darien Teen Applies for Accelerated Rehabilitation in Connection with Nov. 6 Incident in New Canaan
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[Editor’s Note: This article has been updated by removing the name of at least one arrested teen whose charges were dismissed.]
An 18-year-old Darien High School senior arrested last month following an escalating social media exchange that ended with the assault of a New Canaan juvenile, was arraigned Thursday in state Superior Court in Norwalk. Appearing before Judge Alex Hernandez, [an arrested teen’s] Norwalk-based attorney, John Thygerson, said the teen is applying for accelerated rehabilitation to address misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and interfering with an officer. If granted, the pretrial program—a form of parole—is typically designed to impose specific conditions on [an arrested teen] over a period of time that, if met, would result in dismissal of the criminal charges. Wearing a blazer, blue shirt, red tie and khakis, an unsmiling [arrested teen] stood by while Thygerson requested of the court that media outlets seeking to photograph and videotape the proceedings be disallowed from doing so. Thygerson argued that media coverage “has generated” wide interest in [an arrested teen’s] case though the teen faces a “minor charge,” and that continued coverage could “prejudice a jury panel” should the matter go to trial.