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Retired former Lt. Rahgue Tennant, back in court (virtually).
Two and a half years after his arrest for allegedly assaulting his wife and holding his family hostage, former city police Lt. Rahgue Tennant has applied to a diversionary program that could lead to the charges against him being dropped.
Tennant and his defense attorney Rick Silverstein formally submitted that application last Wednesday during a virtual state Superior Court hearing before Judge Eugene Calistro.
During the 20-minute online hearing, Tennant applied to participate in the family violence education program.
Judge Calistro.
During his next date in virtual court in early June, state prosecutors and the defense will debate Tennant’s eligibility for the diversionary program before Judge Calistro rules whether or not Tennant can participate — and potentially receive a clean slate.
Wednesday’s hearing marked Tennant’s first court appearance in well over a year. The state alleges in the case that on Sept. 6, 2018, the former Dixwell top cop abused and intimidated his wife, held his kids hostage, and threatened to shoot up their East Shore house.
After months upon months of pre-trial hearings and continuances, Tennant retired from the city police department in December 2019. Refusing to take a state plea deal, he and his then-attorney Norm Pattis pushed instead to go to trial.
Soon thereafter, the pandemic hit, and the state court system largely ground to a halt, resulting in Tennant’s case once against being pushed back and back by weeks, then months.
On Wednesday, some 31 months after he was arrested and the state charged him with a host of domestic violence charges, Tennant appeared before a new judge with a new lawyer by his side.
He also faces fewer charges now than when he was last in court.
In the immediate aftermath of the arrest and through his decision to go to trial, state prosecutors charged Tennant with six domestic violence charges.
Now, according to the Wednesday hearing and to the state court system’s online database, state prosecutors are pushing only three — one felony count of second-degree assault with a weapon, without discharging the firearm; one felony count of risk of injury to a child; one misdemeanor count of second-degree breach of peace.
Silverstein on Wednesday sought to convince the state to reduce Tennant’s charges even further.
When Calistro asked Silverstein why his client hadn’t already applied to the family violence education diversionary program, the attorney replied, “Essentially, whether or not we apply depends upon whether the state is going to reduce the charges so that we can apply for the two programs that I had earlier told the court I thought were appropriate.”
Calistro reiterated that, right now, Tennant faces three counts: two felonies, and one misdemeanor.
Sr. Asst. State’s Attorney Germain.
Senior Asst. State’s Attorney Jason Germain refused to budge. “We were going to object to these programs,” he said.
Are you sticking with the information and charges currently put forth by the state? Calistro assked the state prosectuor.
“Yes, sir,” Germain replied.
Attorney Silverstein.
Silverstein pushed back.
“We just wanted to be treated like any other defendant who has no record,” he said.
This is a “first-time domestic. He was on the bracelet for two years. He lost his job. At one point, he was being considered to be assistant chief. In the 19 years he served in New Haven, he never had one internal affairs complaint. I don’t know why the state has singled him out for this type of attention. He’s been in therapy for three years.”
Silverstein added that “the consequences the state is seeking would prohibit him from ever being in law enforcement, or probably ever being a security guard.”
He said he’d like to negotiate the charges down to three misdemeanors, “all domestic in nature,” and no jail time.
“I have to say that, if the state is going to stay on the charges, then we’re going to have to go to trial on this case.”
Calistro reminded Silverstein that the state prosecutor has indicated his intention to proceed with the charges as is.
And, as of that moment, “there’s no pending application for a first stage family violence education program.” The court could not hear a debate around Tennant’s eligibility for such a program because no application had been submitted.
“If the court wishes me to apply, we certainly will apply,” Silverstein said.
The attorney asked Tennant to come into the frame from off screen.
Have you every been convicted of family crimes? Calistro asked.
“No, your honor,” replied Tennant, masked and sitting next to Silverstein in the defense attorney’s office.
Have you ever before used a family violence education program?
No, your honor.
Have you every before used an accelerated family rehabilitation program?
No, your honor.
If you successfully complete this program, the charges against you could be dropped. If you’re unsuccessful, the state will prosecute. Do you understand?
Yes, your honor.
At the start of the hearing, Calistro also noted that Tennant has been on probation since his arrest, has been subject to random urine tests, has been going to therapy, and has had not contact with any members of the victim’s family. He has not been arrested on any other charges since supervision began, and he has shown up to all of his probation office visits.
“At this time, the defendant is compliant with the court-ordered release.”
See below for previous coverage of this case.
• Top Cop Retires, Heads To Trial
• Top Cop Rejects Battering Plea Deal
• Arrested Top Cop Keeps Running Out Clock
• Top Cop Benefits As Case Drags On
• Top Cop’s Domestic Violence Case Continued Again
• Accused Wife-Beating Top Cop Staying Sober
• Top Cop Domestic Violence Case Continued
• Cop’s Alleged Threats, Violence Detailed
• Cops Suspend Lt. After Armed Standoff
It's good to hear he has been compliant with probation terms, but is his lawyer really suggesting he should be allowed back into law enforcement? It may be a first offense, but beating your spouse, threatening family annihilation and forcing a police standoff are quite a first offense. And they're claiming he was fired as a punishment? Unless my memory is failing me, wasn't he allowed to coast until he retired with a huge pension?