TV personality's child molestation trial postponed due to delayed FOI request
The trial of former home improvement television show personality Christopher Dionne has been postponed for at least two months while the defense awaits information from state police.
Dionne, 37, of 4 Village Lane, Old Lyme, is accused of molesting a 10-year-old girl during a sleepover at his home on Nov. 26, 2017. He has pleaded not guilty to risk of injury to a minor and fourth-degree sexual assault and opted for a jury trial.
Jury selection began Monday in New London Superior Court, and three people were selected to serve.
On Thursday, the selected jurors were discharged and a waiting panel of potential jurors dismissed after defense attorney Michael Dwyer asked for and was granted a continuance. Dwyer notified Judge Barbara Bailey Jongbloed that state police would not be able to fulfill for "at least for a couple of months," a Freedom of Information request for 13 DVDs containing information about the case. Dwyer said the state has been cooperative in turning over information, but that he learned recently of the existence of the DVDs and additional written material, the latter of which he has received.
Prosecutor Theresa Anne Ferryman said Inspector Philip Fazzino went directly to Troop F in Westbrook in an effort to obtain the materials, but they were unavailable.
Judge Jongbloed scheduled a status update on the case for July 15. She said the court may have an update by that time on the state police information and on sealed documents she is reviewing to determine whether they will be admitted as evidence. She said when all of the information is ready, jury selection would begin anew.
Dionne, a married father of two, is accused of touching the alleged victim under her pants and shirt and taking photos of her with her shirt up while she was sleeping on a living room couch.
Dionne said he arrived home from the Rabbit Hole bar in Old Saybrook about 1:30 a.m. and sat down next to the child when he saw her awake on the couch. He claims she began to rub his stomach, and he told her it was inappropriate.
Dionne appeared with his twin brother on one episode of HGTV's "Family Flip." Taping for a show called "House Rescue" for A&E was suspended due to his arrest, according to online reports.
While free on a $100,000 bond and awaiting trial, Dionne was charged additionally with violation of a protective order after the alleged victim, now 11 years old, reported that Dionne repeatedly drove by a cul-de-sac where she, her brother and a friend were playing on April 11, 2019.
