Criminal charges against former Norwich City Council candidate Michael Grillo dropped
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct a mistake. The state entered a nolle prosequi, which amounts to a dismissal. The state did not enter a no contest plea.
A New London criminal court judge has dismissed charges brought against former Norwich City Council candidate Michael Grillo, after the business owner said he paid a New London check-cashing business for bad checks issued under his company’s name.
The lifelong Norwich resident operates a facility maintenance company and previously denied any wrongdoing in the criminal case. A Republican candidate for Norwich City Council, Grillo, 27, tallied the least number of votes for the Nov. 2 municipal elections this year, with 7.8% of the vote.
Following the court’s decision on Nov. 15, the Senior Assistant State’s Attorney, David Smith told The Bulletin, “the case is disposed of and the state entered a [a nolle plea] after reaching out to the victim specifically about restitution.”
Grillo said this week he wasn’t surprised the criminal charges were dropped but he acknowledged several remaining civil charges brought by businesses and individuals similarly claiming he owes them money, adding he expects charges to be resolved in at least one of those civil cases after he and a former business partner paid $20,000 to settle charges brought by Connecticut-based Sunbelt Rentals, Inc.
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As for his political future, Grillo said in a phone conversation Monday his political ambitions wavered after his recently failed bid for a city council seat.
“One thing that this taught me is that every aspect of your life is going to be scrutinized - some good and some bad – and it was an experience,” Grillo said.
The Norwich resident and business owner said the city's Republican Committee initially approached him with the idea to run for local office, adding he felt his age and status as a business owner, and former career as a firefighter in Waterford, helped "as far as piquing someone's interest" in his candidacy.
“I don’t mind being open with people but I have to look out for the best interest of my employees and that kind of stuff. I think what I did was a little more selfish, I think what I did was for what I felt was right and I didn’t kind of consult with everyone else … I just kind of went for it.”
“I don’t regret it,” he added. “Do I think that I will run again? Unless [stuff] gets sideways, no.”
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Criminal charges dropped against Norwich businessman Michael Grillo
