No damage award for shot burglar
WATERBURY (AP) -- A Superior Court jury has rejected a burglar's bid for damages for being shot when he broke into a house five years ago.
Clarence Wiggins of Waterbury had sued Louis Steponaitis Jr. of Torrington for shooting him in the right arm with a shotgun on Dec. 16, 1998.
Wiggins claimed he broke into a house on Pine St. looking for a place to sleep.
Steponaitis, who purchases, renovates and rents buildings in distressed neighborhoods in the city, was sleeping upstairs to prevent burglaries. He awoke to sounds of someone entering the building.
Steponaitis testified he fire one shot after Wiggins broke into the house and continued coming toward him.
The six-member jury deliberated for about an hour Wednesday before deciding Wiggins did not deserve money for his injuries.
Wiggins served time for third-degree burglary related to the break-in. He later violated probation for that crime and served time for a failure to appear charge.
