By KRISTEN A. TURICK

Richard Janulawicz, 36, of 75 Summer St. pleaded no contest to five charges in January after his motion to suppress evidence -- including guns and ammunition -- was denied by Judge Joan K. Alexander. Janulawicz claimed his girlfriend, Kristen Duren, lived in a separate apartment within the same building and did not have the authority to allow police to search his residence.

Janulawicz was arrested after a 4 1/2-hour standoff in October 2002 after Duren called 911 and reported her boyfriend had been drinking and was getting "mouthy." Authorities alleged Janulawicz pointed a gun at an officer and threatened to shoot police.

Special Public Defender Deron Freeman urged Judge Susan B. Handy to go ahead with the sentencing Tuesday. He said the five children in the house at the time of the incident, including Duren’s four daughters, were not victims of the charges Janulawicz pleaded to. Janulawicz pleaded no contest to two counts of criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon and one count of second-degree threatening.

"Counselor, with all due respect, the children were in the home when the incident took place. I will need input," Handy said.

Three of the girls in the home at the time of the standoff were Duren’s with another man, one was her daughter with Janulawicz and the fifth was a friend of one of the children. Four girls were removed from the home by police using ladders and Janulawicz surrendered the fifth -- his 1-year-old daughter with Duren -- to officers without incident.

Janulawicz, a convicted felon, rejected an offer by the state last year to serve up to seven years in prison and opted to take his case to trial. But he changed his mind in January after his motion to suppress evidence was denied and instead pleaded to the five charges.

Assistant State’s Attorney Vernon Oliver has indicated he will ask Handy to sentence Janulawicz to between three and nine years in prison. Janulawicz has been incarcerated since his arrest Oct. 5, 2002.

Handy scheduled Janula-wicz’s sentencing for May 13 in the New Britain court.

Source: http://www.bristolpress.com/articles/2004/04/07/front%20page/11255336.txt

Last update: 12-01-2008 18:18