Son of ex-town councilman arrested for sexual assault

Randal Szendy, the 23-year-old son of a former Town Council member and former Republican Town Committee chairman, has been arrested on sexual assault charges.

Randal Szendy, of Squash Hollow Road in New Milford, turned himself in Monday to New Milford police on an active arrest warrant, police said.

The charges are first-degree sexual assault, first-degree unlawful restraint and second-degree kidnapping for an incident that occurred in July 2010 and was reported to the New Milford Police Department in November 2011, according to the press release.

Mr. Szendy was released on a $50,000 court set bond. He faces a court date of July 23 in Superior Court in Bantam.

He is a 2007 New Milford High School graduate and earned a bachelor of science degree in 2011 from the University of Vermont.

While a student at New Milford High School, he was a member of the swim and football teams.

His father, Roger Szendy, served on the Town Council for 11 years, as vice chairman during his final several years on the council. He is a member of the Republican Town Committee and previously served on the Planning Commission for five years, as chairman for three of those years.

On hearing of the arrest, Mayor Pat Murphy commented Monday "the Szendy family is a very good family."

"Our process presumes people are innocent until determined guilty," Mayor Murphy added. "I hope everyone will wait until the facts come out and judgment is reached before jumping to conclusions."

Pete Bass, the current Republican Town Committee chairman and Town Council member , also spoke highly of the Szendy family.

"I've know Roger for close to 20 years, he and his whole family," Mr. Bass said. "My heart breaks for everyone involved. One thing that the law allows is for all the fact to come out in court."

"I just hope people will let all of the facets of the court system do their job," he added, "and won't jump to judgement."

stuz@newstimes.com; 860-355-7322