BojkaLaw News

Parlor arrest not his first: Woodbury man faces charges in high school stalking

Saturday, May 20, 2006

BY PAUL SINGLEY

WOODBURY -- A local man charged with patronizing a prostitute at a Waterbury massage parlor has a history of crime here.

Destan Lleshi, 29, of 25 Church St., Apt. 3, was arrested in March for allegedly stalking a 17-year-old female Nonnewaug High School student.

Lleshi, who is originally from Albania, was one of seven men charged at their homes this week for either being caught having sex with workers during a raid of 10 Waterbury massage parlors April 27 or for telling police they were at the parlors to pay for sex.

The details of Lleshi's most recent arrest were not available Friday afternoon. His court date was also not known, according to Lleshi's attorney, Fanol Bojka, and the clerk's office at Waterbury Superior Court.

Court clerks said Friday Lleshi is due back in court Thursday for his case involving the Nonnewaug student. Bojka said he and state prosecutors are discussing a plea-bargain agreement in that case.

Bojka said he has not seen the arrest warrant affidavit concerning Lleshi's arrest involving the massage parlor. However, Bojka said his client is completely innocent of all of the most recent charges and he intends to fight those vigorously.

Bojka, who said he represents about seven of the 22 women who were arrested on prostitution-related charges, said there may be a conflict of interest if the charges against Lleshi allegedly involve any of the women he represents.

If that's the case, he said he may not be able to represent Lleshi, who is free after posting a $5,000 bond, for the charges of patronizing a prostitute.

Lleshi could not be reached for comment on Friday. In the past he has referred all comments to Bojka.

Bojka said he would need to review the affidavit that says Lleshi allegedly patronized a prostitute to determine whether that might hurt his chances of reaching a plea bargain on the stalking charges.

He would not comment further on Lleshi's case but had critical comments about the raids of the massage parlors.

"In my opinion, that was the greatest waste of resources I've seen in the city of Waterbury in my career," he said. "I can't believe that there isn't more significant criminal activity that those resources couldn't have been used to fight."

The raids came after a monthlong undercover investigation. Police officers in Waterbury posed as customers and visited each of the 10 massage parlors twice.

They recorded negotiations for sex acts with masseuses. After a sex act was discussed, police said, the officer told the masseuse he was not interested.

"We always take these cases seriously, and sometimes take some heat from people who think we're overreacting," said Assistant Principal Kim Gallo. "But I don't think there is such a thing as overreacting when you're dealing with someone's children."


BojkaLaw Home		in the news Parlor arrest not his first: Woodbury man faces charges in high school stalking *Saturday, May 20, 2006* BY PAUL SINGLEY Copyright © 2006 Republican-American WOODBURY -- A local man charged with patronizing a prostitute at a Waterbury massage parlor has a history of crime here. Destan Lleshi, 29, of 25 Church St., Apt. 3, was arrested in March for allegedly stalking a 17-year-old female Nonnewaug High School student. Lleshi, who is originally from Albania, was one of seven men charged at their homes this week for either being caught having sex with workers during a raid of 10 Waterbury massage parlors April 27 or for telling police they were at the parlors to pay for sex. The details of Lleshi's most recent arrest were not available Friday afternoon. His court date was also not known, according to Lleshi's attorney, Fanol Bojka, and the clerk's office at Waterbury Superior Court. Court clerks said Friday Lleshi is due back in court Thursday for his case involving the Nonnewaug student. Bojka said he and state prosecutors are discussing a plea-bargain agreement in that case. Bojka said he has not seen the arrest warrant affidavit concerning Lleshi's arrest involving the massage parlor. However, Bojka said his client is completely innocent of all of the most recent charges and he intends to fight those vigorously. Bojka, who said he represents about seven of the 22 women who were arrested on prostitution-related charges, said there may be a conflict of interest if the charges against Lleshi allegedly involve any of the women he represents. If that's the case, he said he may not be able to represent Lleshi, who is free after posting a $5,000 bond, for the charges of patronizing a prostitute. Lleshi could not be reached for comment on Friday. In the past he has referred all comments to Bojka. Bojka said he would need to review the affidavit that says Lleshi allegedly patronized a prostitute to determine whether that might hurt his chances of reaching a plea bargain on the stalking charges. He would not comment further on Lleshi's case but had critical comments about the raids of the massage parlors. "In my opinion, that was the greatest waste of resources I've seen in the city of Waterbury in my career," he said. "I can't believe that there isn't more significant criminal activity that those resources couldn't have been used to fight." The raids came after a monthlong undercover investigation. Police officers in Waterbury posed as customers and visited each of the 10 massage parlors twice. They recorded negotiations for sex acts with masseuses. After a sex act was discussed, police said, the officer told the masseuse he was not interested. Police used the investigation as the basis for search warrants for the parlors and arrest warrants for some of the workers. Waterbury police spokesman Lt. Christopher Corbett said as part of the investigation into the prostitution charges, police reviewed all previous records for those who were arrested. He did not have Lleshi's criminal record available Friday evening and wouldn't comment on Lleshi's charge in Woodbury of stalking in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and/or up to a $2,000 fine. Clayton Brown, Woodbury's resident trooper sergeant, would not comment on the Waterbury case involving Lleshi. Lleshi allegedly stalked a girl he didn't know between November and December 2005. He allegedly went to see the girl at her after-school job, followed her car in his white Jeep Wrangler several times and waited at the high school for the girl to leave, according to police. Brown credited quick thinking by Nonnewaug administrators and their willingness to work with police with helping to track down Lleshi. "We always take these cases seriously, and sometimes take some heat from people who think we're overreacting," said Assistant Principal Kim Gallo. "But I don't think there is such a thing as overreacting when you're dealing with someone's children."
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