Former police detective pleads guilty to drug counts

Stephen Rilling Stephen Rilling Photo: Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Buy photo Photo: Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Former police detective pleads guilty to drug counts 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

MILFORD — The son of Norwalk’s mayor, accused of stealing thousands of dollars in heroin and OxyContin pills from the Fairfield Police Department where he worked as a detective, won’t serve a day in prison.

Stephen Rilling agreed to plead guilty to several misdemeanor charges and was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Frank Iannotti to a suspended 5-year sentence with three years’ probation.

“My son went through the court system, and his attorney and the prosecutor had a discussion in the case and an appropriate resolution was reached,” said Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling on Monday.

The mayor said his son didn’t receive special treatment.

“My son was denied a program other nonviolent drug offenders would be entitled to,” he said. “My son is now moving forward with his life to become a state-certified alcohol and drug addiction counselor.”

Stephen Rilling’s lawyer, John R. Gulash, said the case was resolved by an agreed disposition and said his client had expressed “deep remorse” for his actions.

“It was an appropriate disposition based on all the facts presented and his background,” State’s Attorney Kevin Lawlor said.

Rilling, a 19-year veteran of the Fairfield Police Department, was charged with third-degree computer crime, second-degree larceny by defrauding a public community, possession of narcotics, second-degree forgery, tampering with evidence and false entry by an officer or agent of a public community. If convicted of those charges he could have faced more than 20 years behind bars.

But instead, Rilling, who resigned from the police department, pleaded guilty before Iannotti last week to two counts of misdemeanor possession of narcotics and three counts of fourth-degree computer crime.

In addition to being part of a number of investigations out of Fairfield, Stephen Rilling participated in drug investigations with the state police and in 2006 served as an interim investigator with the Bridgeport State Attorney’s Office.

In an effort to avoid a possible conflict of interest the case was moved to the Milford court.

Police said between June 2016 and February 2017, Rilling signed out more than 225 folds of heroin, more than 800 OxyContin pills and a few packets of cocaine from the department’s evidence room on the false pretext of needing to have the drugs tested. He “ultimately converted these narcotics for his personal use, and consumed them as a result of an addiction to said drugs.”

Police said the drugs originated from a number of raids, undercover operations and from the homes of people who overdosed on the drugs.

In one case, police said between Feb. 20, and May 1, 2014, Rilling conducted an investigation that resulted in the seizure of 58 folds of heroin. Police said the target of the investigation pleaded guilty in October 2016 and on Dec. 31, 2016, Rilling signed out all 58 folds from the evidence room on the pretense that a follow up investigation was being done.

“None of the evidence was ever returned as required and its whereabouts to date is unknown,” the arrest warrant affidavit states.

In March 2017, police said Rilling claimed he had sustained an injury while on duty, which resulted in his absence from work.

“During this period Rilling’s behavior, statements and appearance caused alarm among several bureau members who became concerned Rilling may be improperly consuming drugs,” police said.

After meeting with Rilling, police said the concerned officers checked Rilling’s desk area and discovered several torn bags and empty evidence bags on the floor under his desk.

More empty evidence bags were found stuffed in the desk drawer, police said.