WATERBURY— A former Connecticut judicial marshal has pleaded guilty to coercing prostitutes into sex and agreed to serve one year in prison.
Michael Connelly of Waterbury appeared Thursday in Litchfield Superior Court. He pleaded to charges including promoting prostitution, trafficking in persons, sexual assault and larceny. Sentencing is set for Aug. 9.
The pleas were made under the Alford doctrine, meaning Connelly did not admit guilt but conceded there was enough evidence to convict him.
Connelly was arrested in 2014 and fired from his job at the Waterbury courthouse. He had worked as a marshal since 2000 and worked for the judicial branch as a sheriff since 1982.
Officials say Connelly posed as a police official in Waterbury and threatened to arrest prostitutes if they did not have sex with him for money. Authorities say three women complied.
He was also previously arrested for possession of child pornography and larceny.
Connelly is the brother of the late Waterbury State’s Attorney John Connelly.
