Marshal in sex harassment probe quits police panel

Anthony Candido, chief judicial marshal for the Waterbury Judicial District and a member of the Milford Board of Police Commissioners was found in violation of Judicial Branch policy in an investigation into alleged sexual harassment. less Anthony Candido, chief judicial marshal for the Waterbury Judicial District and a member of the Milford Board of Police Commissioners was found in violation of Judicial Branch policy in an investigation into ... more Photo: File Photo Photo: File Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Marshal in sex harassment probe quits police panel 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A top-ranking state judicial marshal violated policies on sexual harassment, conduct and ethics by engaging in inappropriate behavior with several women in his office at the Waterbury courthouse for no business-related purpose on an "ongoing, rampant" basis for several years, luring them with offers of jobs, candy, soda and gift cards, according to a Judicial Branch report.

Anthony Candido, 69, a Milford resident, was put on administrative leave from his position in Waterbury Superior Court in December after a Department of Children and Families employee filed a sexual harassment complaint against him, officials said.

Candido, who had served on city Board of Police Commissioners, resigned from that post on Thursday.

On Thursday afternoon, Candido resigned from the police

On Wednesday, the Judicial Branch released a redacted, 31-page report of the findings of an internal investigation that was completed in March. Judicial officials will determine next week what steps will be taken regarding Candido's status, said Rhonda Stearly Hebert, a spokeswoman for the Judicial Branch.

Investigators determined that Candido sexually harassed the DCF employee, as well as three members of the public, and did not represent the Judicial Branch in a professional manner.

Candido, who has worked for the state since 1981, was appointed chief judicial marshal at the Waterbury courthouse in 2001. In that role he has overseen security functions at the courthouse and the transportation of prisoners to and from the facility. His annual salary is $79,601.

In addition to his role as a Milford police commissioner -- an appointed position by the Board of Aldermen -- Candido is the chairman of the Concerned Citizens for People with Disabilities charity, and the Milford Mayor's Commission for People with Disabilities, a group he helped form. He was named state Easter Seals Volunteer of the Year in 2005.

Candido has also been recognized for his work as a college and high school girls basketball referee. He was inducted into the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004 and has officiated at levels ranging from high school to Big East college games.

Calls and an email to Candido's attorney, Hugh Keefe, were not immediately returned Wednesday night.

Mark Ciarciello, the Judicial Branch investigator who compiled the report, said he watched video surveillance of the alleged sexual harassment incident, as well as video from outside Candido's office taken between Sept. 19 and Dec. 2, 2011.

In the 39 days Candido worked during that period, Ciarciello said "women were seen entering and/or leaving his office on 32 of these days. The review revealed 101 instances of (Candido) meeting with or escorting individuals into his office, for a total of 132 people. Of this number, 121 were women ... There were no instances of lone males or groups of males (other than judicial marshals) being escorted into his office."

Ciarciello said many of the women appeared to be young and were primarily Hispanic or black. Some appeared to be of high school age, he said.

"(Candido) is seen making physical contact with women on a steady and consistent basis," according to the report. "This contact consists of hugging, holding hands, having his arm around them, jabbing and prodding them and being in their close personal space."

Several Waterbury court employees, including seven fellow judicial marshals, confirmed the video evidence and the scenarios presented by Candido's accusers, according to the report.

One marshal said Candido "would single out woman (sic) on almost a daily basis," bringing them to his office and then not emerging for a hour. He said there were "hundreds of women," for numerous years, and several marshals would joke "that's Tony being Tony," or "he's trolling for girls." The marshal said several girls asked for Candido by calling him "Uncle Tony."

Another marshal said Candido "lights up" around young, Hispanic women, ogling them and would "ignore everything and everyone else around him, including judicial marshals who may have a work-related inquiry."

In interviews with the investigator, Candido denied the claims made against him by four women, including three who came forward following news reports of the initial investigation. He admitted he "hugs lots of individuals that he comes into contact with ... whether these individuals are male or females."

He said the visits were frequently so he could give the women help in the form of gift cards to buy food, which he acquired through his charity work. Candido claimed he had approval from a supervisor, but the supervisor told investigators he knew nothing about the gift cards. In addition, a 2004 document showed Candido was warned not to conduct charity-related business in the courthouse and to remove all items from his office relating to the charities.

The investigation into Candido began in early December when a DCF social worker claimed he sexually harassed her on Nov. 23, 2011, while she was at the courthouse to help a client in a legal matter.

The woman said she entered the courthouse and while searching for the courtroom where her client would be appearing, she met Candido, who she said offered to help her find the right location.

During an elevator ride to Candido's basement office, the woman said Candido asked her about her marital status, inquired about her nationality and complemented her eyes. "Wow, you have beautiful eyes, I really love your eyes, you can tell a lot about a person from their eyes," the woman said Candido claimed.

When they reached his office, she said he offered her candy and a cold drink. Despite trying to focus their conversation on finding her client, the woman said Candido began telling her about his volunteer work, showing her numerous photos and mementos of the work that cover his office.

When she stood to leave, the woman claims he blocked her path, hugged her and kissed her numerous times, including on the lips. Candido said the woman initiated the hug, and started the conversation about his volunteer work as he was simply trying to assist her.

Ciarciello, the judicial investigator, found that Candido violated Judicial Branch sexual harassment policies through his interactions with the woman. He concluded Candido "combined actions of interacting with (name redacted) for an extended period of time when no business rationale existed, placing her in an emotionally charged atmosphere via discussions of charity work and cancer victims, discussing lunch with her and then hugging and kissing her constitute conduct of a sexual nature."

Candido was also found in violation of judicial marshal ethics policies because he didn't carry himself in a professional manner and disregarded a previous warning from his supervisor to remove pictures and items from his office related to his charity work.

When news reports circulated about the investigation into Candido's behavior, officials said three members of the public came forward to make similar claims. All the violations brought against him, except allegations that he interacted with high school students on the Waterbury Green and interfered with court proceedings, were found to be substantiated.

Candido has been barred from Judicial Branch work locations since the investigation began last year. He was suspended in September and used accrued vacation and personal time until Feb. 14, when his paid time off ran out, Judicial Branch officials said.

State Police are also conducting an investigation into the allegations against Candido. In March, Keefe, Candido's attorney, said he didn't expect criminal charges to be filed.

tcleary@ctpost.com; 203-540-9827; http://twitter.com/tomwcleary