2 Trumbull IT Heads Quit Amid Porn, Harassment Charges

Two former Information Technology employees, Matthew Altieri and Matthew Heffern, allegedly harassed each other and town employees before resigning in summer.

Also harassed was the 12-year-old son of an employee, according to an account of events prepared by Chief of Staff Dan Nelson released following a recent Freedom of Information request from Trumbull Patch.

He said Altieri "reached over her child and typed [a link to a pornographic website] in the search box of her son's personal computer," Nelson said. Altieri later reportedly said he didn't hit the enter key and would "pay the bills" if the incident disturbed the youth.

Altieri was allowed to resign with medical coverage though Dec. 31 and Heffern through Oct. 31. Both were hired in 2006 and had positive reviews before the incidents were reported, documents showed.

First Selectman Tim Herbst declined to comment on the matter. Altieri and Heffern could not be reached for comment.

Other incidents of alleged harassment by Altieri included:

• In June, Altieri told a female employee sexually explicit stories and refused to stop when she asked him to. Later, he tried to show her a sexually explicit YouTube video. The employee said she had not reported the incidents out of "fear of retribution or harm from Mr. Altieri."
• "She has previously and recently observed Mr. Altieri make statements about 'getting a gun and killing' town employees."
• Altieri put pornographic screensavers on her computer when she would leave her town computer. He stopped at her request.

The incidents led to a search of Altieri's work hard drive where Trumbull Police found pornography. The threats also led police to seize handguns from Altieri's home. Heffern's work computer was also searched and pornography was found, Nelson reported.

Also, according to Nelson:

• Altieri said that on March 25, Heffern Berated Altieri at his desk and touched him inappropriately and threatened to assault him.
• Altieri said Heffern "exhibited unstable and frightening behavior including the appearance of being disoriented, yelling, threatening and invading the personal space of other town employees and touching [Altieri] and other employees in an inappropriate manner."

Heffern also levied charges against Altieri. Nelson determined, among other things, that the two engage in "horseplay" and "mutual misconduct." Both were sent to a sexual harassment seminar, which they completed.

Town Finance Director Maria Pires also reported that Heffern used profanity and raised his voice at her on March 25.

The investigation is closed, Nelson said.