Print

Robles Appears In Court, Doesn't Enter Plea

By Jenna Carlesso

March 08, 2011

State Rep. Hector Robles, a former city police officer, made his first appearance in Superior Court in Hartford Tuesday.

Robles, who was elected to a second term in November despite having been fired from the police department for double billing, was charged last week with two counts of first-degree larceny.

He did not enter a plea Tuesday. His case was continued until April 19.

His attorneys, R. Bartley Halloran and Ronald Johnson, declined to comment.

Robles turned himself in to investigators with the chief state's attorney's office last week and was released on a written promise to appear.

Investigators say Robles, a 15-year veteran of the Hartford police force, falsified time cards to show that he was on duty while working private jobs. The double billing defrauded the department of more than $10,000, according to an arrest affidavit. Robles was fired Nov. 2.

He was found to be in violation of several articles of the Hartford Police Department code of conduct, including conduct unbecoming an employee, knowingly or willfully making a false entry in a department record and intentional failure to comply with lawful orders, procedures, directives or regulations, oral or written.

Despite his firing, he went on to win a second term representing the 6th District in south Hartford, defeating three write-in candidates.

Several politicians have called for Robles' resignation, including State Republican Chairman Christopher Healy and Janet Appellof, a spokeswoman for the Hartford Democratic Town Committee's 6th District. Robles also serves on the town committee.