Sandy Hook ‘truther’ wants probation

Matthew Mills, a self-proclaimed truther/journalist is charged with trying to disrupt the annual charity race in Stratford, Conn. that honors murdered Sandy Hook teacher Victoria Soto. Mills, 32, of Brooklyn, N.Y., applied for accelerated rehabilitation in Superior Court in Bridgeport, Conn. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. less Matthew Mills, a self-proclaimed truther/journalist is charged with trying to disrupt the annual charity race in Stratford, Conn. that honors murdered Sandy Hook teacher Victoria Soto. Mills, 32, of Brooklyn, ... more Photo: Contributed / Contributed Photo Photo: Contributed / Contributed Photo Image 1 of / 68 Caption Close Sandy Hook ‘truther’ wants probation 1 / 68 Back to Gallery

BRIDGEPORT — If the truth is out there, Matthew Mills was not ready to spill it Tuesday as he left state Superior Court.

“Have a nice day,” quipped the self-proclaimed truther/journalist who is charged with trying to disrupt the annual charity race in honor of slain Sandy Hook teacher Victoria Soto. “My lawyer will comment for me.”

“Yes, have a nice day,” added his lawyer, Christopher Grotz.

Earlier, Mills, 32, of Brooklyn, N.Y., stood before Superior Court Judge William Holden and applied for accelerated rehabilitation, a special pretrial probation program for nonviolent offenders, on the charges pending against him of interfering with police and second-degree breach of peace.

Soto’s younger sister, Jillian, sat a few feet away, her hands folded in her lap. She declined to comment as she later left the Golden Hill Street courtroom.

“Miss Soto and her family would like a no-contact order,” Assistant State’s Attorney Craig Nowak told the judge.

“That means you do not contact Miss Soto by any means,” the judge explained to a nodding Mills.

Asked by the judge if he has a prior criminal record, Mills answered: “I believe I’ve had some minor infractions.”

Those charges would include those imposed after Mills intruded into a Super Bowl news conference last year, the prosecutor said.

He was charged with interfering with police and second-degree breach of peace in the Sandy Hook case.

The judge scheduled a hearing on the application for Dec. 16.

If accelerated rehabilitation is granted, Mills would not plead guilty to the charges but would be placed on up to two years of probation. If he commits no other crimes during that probation, then the original charges are dismissed.

Victoria Soto, of Stratford, was hailed as a hero after police said she died while protecting her first-grade students from gunman Adam Lanza at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012.

Hundreds were attending the third annual race to raise money for educational scholarships in Soto’s name Nov. 7 when police said Mills approached Jillian Soto.

They said Mills shoved a photograph in the younger Soto’s face and began angrily charging that not only did the Sandy Hook tragedy not take place but that Victoria Soto never existed.

Police said the photo was of the Soto family, including Victoria Soto, sitting on a seawall in Stratford.

Jillian Soto became very upset at Mills’ actions and repeatedly asked him to leave her alone, but police said he persisted until officers arrived on the scene.

He then ran off and was captured following a brief foot chase with officers on Main Street.

Police said Jillian Soto and her younger sister were shaken up and crying from the confrontation with Mills.