Lasaga charged again, Yale to wait and see

COURTESY CONNECTICUT SUPERIOR COURT AND U.S. DISTRICT COURT ON THE DEFENSE: Over winter vacation, the former Saybrook Master faced new state assault charges regarding his relationship with a 13-year-old boy.

With the Yale community still reeling from the federal charges levied against Antonio Lasaga, the former Saybrook Master was hit with more serious state charges over winter break regarding his alleged relationship with a 13-year-old New Haven student. Lasaga now faces charges of sexual assault in the first degree and risk of injury to a minor.

As of now, it is unclear if and when the state case will actually become a full-fledged trial. According to State Attorney Mike Dearington, the next steps taken will be "a series of pretrial conferences that will determine whether the case will go to trial. We, meaning the prosecution, signed the arrest warrant but the investigation is continuing," he said.

At a hearing on Tues., Jan. 5, Lasaga pleaded not guilty to the latest charges. Lasaga's new lawyer, William F. Dow III, said, "These are only allegations that have yet to be proven." Dow would not comment on Lasaga's next move except to say that "Professor Lasaga has plead not guilty and will wait to respond to charges in court."

Lasaga had been arrested by New Haven police at his home on Mon., Dec. 21. City police spokesperson Judith Mongillo explained that the state charges "had nothing to do with the previous federal investigation." WTNH reported on Mon., Dec. 21 that Lasaga had been "allegedly making obscene videotapes of a 13-year-old boy."

Following the Dec. 21 arrest, Dow filed three motions on Wed., Dec. 30, to suppress evidence, statements, and identification testimony in the state case. Dow declared in court documents that Lasaga's property had been seized without an adequate warrant and asked the court to suppress "all evidence seized and obtained." Dow's two other motions requested the court "to express any statements, written or oral, made by [Lasaga] to law enforcement authorities" and "to suppress as evidence the pretrial identification made by witnesses in this matter and any in-court identification by said witnesses."

While Lasaga has been released on $250,000 bond, Superior Court Judge Roland D. Fasano ordered him on Tues., Jan. 5 to "have no contact with the victim whatsoever...to not leave the state of Connecticut without permission of the court and bail commissioner" and "to abide by all federal conditions" of Lasaga's release on Thurs., Dec.10. Lasaga had been arrested on Wed., Dec. 9, for allegedly driving back and forth eight times near the house and bus stop of his alleged victim. At the Dec. 10 hearing, a federal judge placed Lasaga under house arrest and ordered him to wear an electronic monitor.

In spite of the federal and state charges against Lasaga, University Secretary Linda Lorimer, LAW '77, nevertheless maintained that "there has not been a change at this point in the status of his tenure." President Richard Levin, GRD '74, felt no need to rush into a tribunal or to discontinue Lasaga's tenure, claiming that action would have the same impact as no action. "We've not initiated a proceeding as of yet," Levin said. "[We will] wait a while before any action is taken."

The University will continue to wait for proceedings in court before it takes any measures against Lasaga. "Mr. Lasaga has pleaded innocent to this charge and one has to await the judicial process," Lorimer said. "However the allegation is tremendously disturbing and if proven would be of serious consequence." Tom Conroy, acting director of public affairs, added, "The University's role is to cooperate, as it has, with the authorities in their investigations in whatever way requested."

Levin would not confirm whether any members of the Yale community would testify if the Lasaga case goes to trial. "We're not at that stage yet," he said.

According to Levin, Yale has not started the search process for a new Saybrook Master. Students seem pleased with Saybrook Acting Master Harry Adams. "I would say that most people think Master Adams is very congenial," Sarah Catapano-Friedman, SY '00, commented. Levin also approved of the Adams' perfomance. "I hear principally from students, and less from other faculty that Master Adams is doing a wonderful job," Levin said. "He had the right kind of calming presence."

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