Michelle Troconis is set to be sentenced Friday at Stamford Super Court in connection with the disappearance of Jennifer Farber Dulos. Here is what she is facing.
www.courant.com
5/30/24
During what is expected to be an hourslong hearing in Stamford Superior Court on Friday, Judge Kevin A. Randolph will sentence Troconis for the crimes
she was convicted of on March 1: Conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of tampering with evidence, two counts of conspiring to tamper with evidence and hindering the prosecution.
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Local lawyers weigh in
Stamford criminal defense attorney
Mark Sherman said he thinks Troconis will be sentenced to seven to 10 years behind bars if she expresses remorse before the judge.
“One of the things that could result in a more favorable sentence is an ‘I’m sorry this happened’ (statement from Troconis) without admitting guilt. That will go a little bit toward a lower sentence,” he said.
“I think if she acknowledges some remorse and empathy for the victims it’s going to go a long way here. Because I think there’s an overall consensus that she got pulled into this manipulative vortex through Fotis, somewhat unwittingly.”
Hartford-based criminal defense attorney
Trent LaLima doesn’t think Troconis will make such a statement since she plans to appeal her conviction. Troconis’ attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, has filed motions to have the conviction thrown out.
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Attorney
Ryan McGuigan said that based on his experience as a former prosecutor, he expects Troconis to get that maximum sentence.
“I would expect her to get 35 to 50, but it would not surprise me if she gets the maximum,” he said. “It’s going to be very difficult for attorney Schoenhorn to argue for any sentence less than the maximum.”
McGuigan said the judge may consider a person’s background and upbringing at sentencing, and McGuigan said that Troconis’ background shows only privilege.
“It’s very difficult to get any sympathy from a judge who, on a daily basis, has to sentence similarly situated people who have come from nothing and have never had a break in their entire life,” he said. “And this defendant has had every chance, every opportunity in the world and has squandered them.”
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Impact on family, friends
Before a judge hands down a sentence in Connecticut courts, family and friends have the opportunity to deliver “victim impact statements” in which they tell the judge what they think the sentence should be, ask for specific conditions upon their release and state publicly how the crimes have taken a toll on them emotionally, physically and financially or all of the above.
Carrie Luft, Farber Dulos’ friend who has acted as a spokesperson for the Farber family, said that this process offers Farber Dulos’ loved ones a chance to publicly share their memories and stories about Farber Dulos and a rare chance to let their feelings come through in court.
“It’s an important opportunity for emotion and perception to come into the courtroom when much of that really isn’t permitted as evidence,” she said.
While they are grateful for the opportunity to speak, the weight of summarizing their loss into one statement feels unbearably heavy.
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Luft said she will be at the sentencing hearing but has not provided information about what other friends and family will attend.
After Farber Dulos’ loved ones make their remarks, Troconis’ family and friends will also have an opportunity to speak on her behalf, likely asking the judge for a more lenient sentence.
Schoenhorn said Thursday that 12 to 18 family members, friends and clergy members will speak in support of Troconis.
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