The Gunnery School Case  

       By Sue Smith
suesmith@smith-lawfirm.com

On June 17, 2011 Robert Reinhardt was sentenced on charges of sexual abuse brought by 4 students from the Gunnery. Reinhardt had earlier plead guilty to 3 counts of sexual abuse in the second degree, a serious felony, and one count of risk of injury to a minor, also a serious felony. All are the pleas involve mandatory sex offender registration.

Atty Smith addressed the court on behalf of 3 of Reinhardt's victims, all of whom have suffered long term consequences of the abuse. She continues to represent Reinhardt victims in the civil cases pending against The Gunnery. Under Connecticut's extended statute of limitations, victims have the ability to file lawsuits for childhood sexual abuse up through their 43rd year of age.

Reinhardt, a former dean of The Gunnery, is a sexual predator who gained the confidence of male students and then gradually groomed them to accept his sexual advances. Many of his victims had vulnerabilities that made them susceptible to manipulation. He sometimes maintained sexual relationships with multiple victims in the same time period and some of his predatory activities involved more than one victim at a time. Like many predators, Reinhardt maintained a collection of “trophies” of his conquests. In his case, it was boys' underwear. The prosecutor on the case was Terri Sonnemann of the Litchfield State’s Attorney’s office, who worked with investigators from the Connecticut State Police and the State’s Attorney’s office in putting the case together.

Reinhardt's sentence is for 27 years, suspended after service of 9.5 years, followed by 30 years of probation. Reinhardt would be required to register as a sex offender. The 30 years of probation would commence upon his release from incarceration and would be of the “strict supervision” type where he would be monitored as to what he does, where he lives, who he associates with, and the like. Sex offender treatment is mandatory under the Connecticut strict supervision program. Under Connecticut law, felons convicted of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree must serve a minimum mandatory 85% of their sentences before they are eligible to apply for parole.

First Steps: Filing a
suit for civil damages.

Connecticut's special statute of limitations
for childhood sexual abuse victims.

Flowers are those little colorful beacons of the sun from which we get sunshine when dark, somber skies blanket our thoughts.
~Dodinsky