New London Superior Court Judge John J. Nazzaro on Wednesday ordered a study of the restitution amounts involved in several larceny charges against Norwich businessman Zane Megos for incidents in which Megos allegedly collected rent and deposit money for apartments that never became available.

Megos appeared Wednesday in court, where his attorney, Kenneth Leary, prosecutor Rafael I. Bustamante and Nazzaro discussed a plea offer behind closed doors prior to the opening of court and during a brief recess. The offer was not made public.

Nazzaro, however, announced during open court that he needed more time to review the circumstances involved in the cases and said restitution amounts needed to be studied “so it’s crystal clear exactly what is claimed here.”

Nazzaro continued the cases to Jan. 30.

Megos has been charged by Norwich police in six cases for allegedly taking deposits and rent payments for apartments and houses in Norwich and New London that never became available. Some of the apartments were in properties that had been condemned.

Prospective tenants complained that they couldn’t get their deposits back when the apartments did not become available. According to police warrants, the combined total involved $17,375 in rent deposits.

Megos, 55, of 31 Dellwood Road, Norwich, faces one count of second-degree larceny, two counts of third-degree larceny and three counts of fourth-degree larceny.

Megos also faces third-degree assault and breach of peace charges stemming from an altercation with one of the alleged larceny victims, who had confronted Megos to get his deposit back.

In an unrelated case, Norwich police charged Megos on Sept. 19 with evading responsibility, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, driving without minimum insurance and failure to drive right.

— Claire Bessette