25 May—Connecticut’s fiscal condition is so pitiful that just the other day the superficial local news summaries on two of the state’s left-wing radio stations actually mentioned that a winning ticket in the Mega Millions lottery—with a jackpot over $400 million—was sold in the state. But the winning ticket was for only $10 thousand. Is Connecticut really so desperate that a piddling prize makes the news? Even on public radio?

That takes us back to the justice problem in woebegone Connecticut. Margaret Bottone, now a former employee of the Department of Children and Families, was just given a suspended prison sentence with five years probation after she pleaded nolo contendere (no contest) in Waterbury Superior Court to assault in the second degree and risk of injury to a minor, both felonies. Technically, while the nolo plea doesn’t dispute the charges, neither is it an admission of guilt; but it’s on the books as a guilty verdict and likely was part of her plea bargain.

Bottone was charged with maltreating a one-month-old baby boy under her care in Middlebury almost four years ago. The evidence against her was circumstantial, to be sure, and she denies hurting the infant and claims no knowledge of how the poor thing was injured. But she did plead out. And the verdict is guilty.

Sparing the gory details, the victim child was admitted to Yale New Haven Hospital with life-threatening injuries while in Bottone’s care. He’s now (still) confined to a wheelchair and is undergoing physical therapy so he can (hopefully) gain at least some mobility. He can’t eat solid food and has to wear a diaper.

Even sadder, according to the poor little boy’s guardian ad litem, “the prognosis isn’t great.” That’s without doubt a gross understatement. His adoptive parents filed a civil suit in New Haven against Bottone and the Department of Children and Families almost three years ago. Of course, DCF filed a motion to quash.

What a miserable life for a totally innocent person to look forward to. And the person who caused the misery? And as usual, the wheels of Connecticut justice are grinding very slowly . . .