Connecticut school psychologist David Pino sentenced for sexual assault and voyeurism

November 5, 2012

ENFIELD — In November 2011, as many people suffered through the power outages that followed the October snowstorm, David Pino of Keen Court opened his home to a friend who had no electricity.

The 36-year-old woman, a longtime friend of Pino and his wife, was going to stay the night. Before going to bed, the group had several drinks.
 
The guest was going to sleep on a day bed in a home office, but Pino suggested that she sleep in the master bedroom with Pino's wife.

He said he would sleep on the day bed.

Early the next morning, the woman later told police, something went wrong.

"At approximately 4 a.m., the victim woke," Senior Assistant State's Attorney Debra Collins told Enfield Superior Court Judge Howard Scheinblum on Thursday. "She felt the lower portion of the covers had been lifted. She saw a flash like that of a camera. She heard movements and realized she was no longer wearing jeans and underwear."

The next day, the woman contacted Enfield police, who began an investigation and obtained a confession from Pino, a school psychologist at Center Road School in Vernon, according to the warrant for Pino's arrest. They also obtained photographs of the woman's pubic area that Pino took that night.

"Mr. Pino eventually admitted that he did remove the clothes from the victim and took one photograph of the victim's thigh and pubic area using his cellular phone," Collins said.

Pino was arrested on Dec. 14, 2011, and was charged with second-degree sexual assault and voyeurism. In court on Thursday, Pino pleaded no contest to a single count of unlawful restraint.

As part of the agreement, Scheinblum sentenced Pino to a one-year suspended jail sentence and one year of probation. He also must also perform 50 hours of community service.

The woman photographed by Pino was in court Thursday and said she was satisfied with the disposition.

According to the warrant for Pino's arrest, he not only photographed the woman's public area, but performed oral sex on her and masturbated while he did so.

Pino has been on administrative leave from his position at Center Road School since his arrest. Vernon School Superintendent Mary P. Conway said Pino remains on administrative leave and continues to work at the district's central office.

Conway said she was aware of his no contest plea on Thursday.

"We're certainly going to take his plea under advisement," he said, declining to comment further.

Source: David Owens, "School Psychologist Pleads No Contest To Taking Photo Of Woman's Pubic Area," The Hartford Courant, November 1, 2012.