Court ruling acquits Naugatuck man of sexual assault

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WATERBURY — A Naugatuck man was acquitted of sexual assault charges Monday in Waterbury Superior Court.

Joseph Fields, Jr., 24, faced more than 10 felonies, including first-degree sexual assault in connection to incidents in 2004 that were claimed by a girl who was 9-years-old at the time.

Police in Waterbury and Naugatuck arrested Fields in 2008 following investigations into the allegations.

Fields pleaded not guilty to the charges, choosing to take his case to trial. A jury was split during Fields’ first trial, and his second trial ended Monday with a ruling by Judge Thomas O’Keefe.

O’Keefe granted a motion for acquittal made by Fields’ attorney, Martin Minnella, based on e-mails that were disclosed allegedly showing contact between the mother of the girl and Fields.

Minnella said Monday that Fields had been fired as a result of his arrest, but has secured another job.

Special to the Citizen’s News