Norwalk Man Jailed for Assaults Involving Son

NORWALK -- A city man who pleaded guilty to two fights involving his son was sharply rebuked by a judge during his sentencing Tuesday.

Richard Zwart, 52, of 31 Betts Place, Norwalk, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault, violation of a protective order, resisting arrest, and criminal violation of a restraining order; he was sentenced to 18 months in jail at state Superior Court in Norwalk.

After hearing the particulars of Zwart's crimes recited by Assistant State's Attorney Justina Moore, Judge Bruce Hudock let Zwart know the dim view he had of his parenting skills.

"You are a hopeless alcoholic," Hudock began, before calling Zwart's actions "shameful."

"The thing is, that is what you will be remembered for in the next generation... That is going to be on your grave stone that you were a drunk," the judge said after issuing his sentence.

Often in cases involving alcohol and driving -- especially when there has been an accident -- Hudock has compassionately urged defendants to realize they have hit rock bottom and use their conviction as a first step toward a new life. His verdict Tuesday was absent any sympathy.

Zwart's guilty pleas came from a string of arrests involving his son that began in 2009. On June 20, 2009, Zwart's son Richard was seen entering a 6 Broad St. apartment with a weapon. A witness then heard Zwart yelling outside the apartment and then saw the son lying on the living room floor. Because of a vacant look on the son's face and what appeared to be blood in the apartment, police were called, Moore said.

Police later found a broken wooden baton that Zwart apparently used to strike his son. The son, now 28, turned out to be extremely drunk and what looked like blood was actually salsa from bottle that was broken in the apartment during another fight between the two several hours earlier, police at the time said. Richard Zwart Jr., who was taken to the hospital with facial injuries, said he did not know how he was injured.

On June 12 this year, Zwart and his son were arrested when a Rowayton Avenue resident reported a ruckus involving the two men, who explained they had just gotten off a boat after drinking beer. They told police they went to where their bicycles were locked up but could not find a key to unlock them, Moore said.

Police ended up finding the key in the bicycle lock and booked the two for disorderly conduct and violation of a protective order because they were not supposed to be drinking.

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HAHAHAHA the key was in the lock! And there was a broken bottle of salsa which resembled blood... It's like the two stooges!