This post will be updated throughout the day as the cases get underway.
8:45 AM: At the courthouse now. DaSilva and Grant's cases are scheduled to start at 10:00 AM. Don't know if the arrest warrants will be available at that time.
9:45: Judge is only allowing one still camera so I won't be able to videotape the proceedings. Having problems posting to the News-Tims site so I'll have to update things at that blog after I leave the courthouse.
8:50 DaSilva is not here yet but I just noticed Troy Grant in the hallway.
9:30 Area media are on hand including yours truly, The Tribuna, Communidade News, The News-Times, and WLAD.
10:00 Judge enter the chamber. It going to be a while until DaSilva's case is called.
10:50 Joe DaSilva entered the courtroom with his attorney Eugene Riccio and brother Alberto DaSilva.
10:55 Judge called a short recess.
11:00 Court back in session DaSilva case is called first. DaSilva's attorney enters a plea of not guilty for his client and request a jury trial. Judge issued a protectove order for the two witnesses in the case. Case continued for March 3rd. Arrest warrant will remain sealed until this Friday.
Joe DaSilva leaves the court chambers accompanied with attorney Eugene Riccio. Photo: News-Times
11:10 Troy Grant case is called next.
Whoa!
Prosecutor requests that Grant's bond be increased by 150,000 and there are a series of new charges filed against him. Grant does not have an attorney and judge gives him time to file for a public defender. Case will be recalled later today. If I'm right, he might need to come up with the additional bond money today.
11:30 Grant case not recalled yet. He filed for a pd (public defender). Going to stay here until his case is recalled. His arrest warrant is still sealed.
12:30 Grant's case is recalled. Judge informs him that he's NOT eligible for a public defender. He has the option of hiring his own attorney or defend himself. The bond hearing (in which his bond was increased by 150.000) will be heard on Thursday at 9:30.
12:45: Went to the Court Clerk's office to get a copy of the new charges filed against Grant. The file is still in the courtroom and I'll have to wait till after 3:00 to see the contents. Arrest warrant is still sealed.
4:45: Just returned from the court house and I was able to view the list of charges against Troy Grant and I'm still in a stake of shock. I'll post the updated list of charges in a little while.
7:00 Well, it's late and I'm still going through my notes and court documents from today. Tomorrow, I'll do an update post on today's proceedings. Thanks to everyone who visited the site throughout the day as there was a HUGE spike in traffic today.
04.25.22 (RADIO): WSHU Latino group call on Connecticut lawmakers to open a Danbury charter school
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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
