A federal judge on Monday rejected former Waterbury Mayor Philip Giordano’s bid for a reduced sentence, saying he deserves 37 years in prison for abusing two girls while he was mayor.
Giordano, 44, was convicted in 2003 of violating the girls’ civil rights by paying a crack-addicted prostitute to bring her daughter and niece to him for sexual encounters in 2000 and 2001, when they were 8 and 10.
“The 444-month sentence was, and still remains, just, reasonable, and sufficient, but not greater than necessary given the nature of his crimes,” U.S. District Judge Alan H. Nevas wrote, adding that the public must be protected from Giordano.
His attorney, Andrew Bowman, had no immediate comment.
“Were gratified that Judge Nevas reaffirmed the 37-year sentence, which we believe is an appropriate one for any individual who commits such abominable crimes,” said a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Giordano, who also ran for U.S. Senate against Joe Lieberman in 2000, sought resentencing because sentencing guidelines have since been made advisory rather than mandatory.
During a hearing last week, Nevas cited letters from therapists who say the two girls continue to suffer nightmares and anti-social behavior. One is angry and aggressive, “sometimes threatening her own and others’ safety,” and thinks she is stupid because she does badly in school, Nevas said.
“And you’re telling me his life is going to be miserable?” Nevas said last week to Bowman. “Think, Mr. Bowman, about what he did to those two innocent girls. And you’re telling me his life in prison is going to be difficult?”
Bowman said Giordano has often spent his prison time in isolation, 23 hours a day. The former three-term Republican mayor has been held since his arrest in July 2001.
“I’m not sure that a sentence of death would not have been more humane,” Bowman said.
Prosecutors said Giordano was in the general prison population at one time and his restrictions may lessen over time.
Prosecutors quoted a judge at the time saying Giordano was a “golden boy” whose conduct was the worst he had ever seen. Giordano molested the girls in the mayor’s office, his police-type cruiser, his former law office and his home, authorities say.
The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the federal convictions last year and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal.
Evidence of the sexual abuse surfaced when federal agents investigating allegations of corruption against Giordano overheard phone conversations between Giordano and the prostitute. FBI agents testified that they suspended their corruption probe before it was complete to arrest Giordano and spare the girls from additional assaults.
Giordano has been isolated in prison in part because of his cooperation in the corruption case.
The prostitute is serving a 10-year federal sentence and acknowledged she provided Giordano with the girls.
