Coventry police have arrested two volunteer firefighters accused of having sexual relations with members of the junior firefighter program, which is for teens between 14 and 17 years old.
Police have charged Joseph Michael Carilli, 55 of Coventry, the department’s training officer, with sexual assault in the second degree and risk of injury to a minor. Joe Fragoso, 35 of Coventry, a second lieutenant, was charged with second-degree sexual assault.
Police said the investigation revealed that both subjects had been having sexual relations with members of the CVFA Junior Firefighter program, where 14-to-17-year-old teens participate in training, emergency calls and public education.
Police said the firefighters turned themselves in at the Coventry Police Department after learning that there were warrants for their arrest.
Carilli was chief of that department from June 2006 to November 30, 2012 and then became the department’s training officer. He spent time in prison in the 1980s for having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl when he was 24.
Fragoso has been a fire lieutenant at that department since June 2012.
Police said the current leadership of the Coventry Volunteer Fire Association has cooperated with the police investigation.
Police ask anyone with further information to call 860-742-7331 and speak with Sgt. Michael McDonagh or Detective Michael Hicks.
The court set Carilli’s bond at $500,000 and he will be arraigned at Rockville Superior Court today.
Joe Fragoso, of Coventry, has been charged with sexual assault in the second degree. The court set the bond of $250,000. He was released after posting a surety bond and is due in Rockville Superior Court on Feb. 27.
