Monroe landscaper charged in maple syrup sex case opts for trial

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BRIDGEPORT — The “Maple Syrup Man” wants to stick with a trial.

Robert Somley, the Monroe landscaper who received notoriety for enticing a married woman to have sex with him with maple syrup and blueberry jam and then allegedly secretly video recorded her, turned down a plea bargain on Friday and told a Superior Court judge he wants a trial.

Somley is charged with voyeurism along with violating a protective order and illegally possessing an assault weapon and possession of high-capacity magazines that police said they found in his house later.

His lawyer, Thomas Cocco, confirmed that Somley turned down a plea bargain of two and a half years in prison.

“He is opting for a jury trial,” Cocco said.

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Tatiana Messina declined comment on the case.

Police said the woman was helping Somley move out of the home he had been evicted from when Somley said he needed to take a break.

After about 20 minutes, the woman went looking for Somley and found him in the home, naked watching pornography on a laptop, police said.

When the woman questioned what Somley was doing, police said, he responded that he needed to relieve himself before continuing work.

Police said the woman left and went back to loading a trailer. But, after a short while, decided that she too needed to take a break.

When she went back into the home this time she found Somley naked and dribbling maple syrup on his body, police said.

Police said the woman confessed that this sight was a “turn on” for her and she demanded to be allowed to participate.

In addition to the syrup, police said the couple engaged in foreplay with blueberry jelly.

All the while, police said Somley was taking video of the situation.

When the woman found out there was video, police said, she demanded that Somley delete it, but he refused.

The 52-year-old Somley was arrested on a charge of violating a protective order when, police said, he told the woman’s best friend that she needed to tell the victim, “that if she did not drop all the charges he would completely destroy her, that he would go public with her name.”

When police later went to Somley’s home, they said, they found an unlicensed AK-47 rifle and nine high-capacity magazines.