Attorney General Tong Announces Reduced Pension for East Haven Educator Convicted of Stealing Tuition Payments

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09/02/2025

Attorney General Tong Announces Reduced Pension for East Haven Educator Convicted of Stealing Tuition Payments

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong announced today that a Hartford Superior Court judge has ordered a partial reduction in municipal pension payments for Catherine Finkle, who was convicted in federal court in 2021 of stealing over $38,000 in tuition payments she received as the director of the Town of East Haven’s before and after-school childcare program.

For approximately eight years, from January 2011 until November 2018, as director of the Little Jackets childcare program, Finkle diverted more than $30,000 in tuition and cash payments intended for the program to her own bank account for her personal use. She was terminated after her failure to account for the missing tuition payments. She subsequently filed a grievance contesting her termination and was unsuccessful. She later filed for unemployment benefits even though she was fired for cause, requiring the Board of Education to contest her claim. In addition to the money she stole, her actions caused the town to incur more than $52,000 in legal expenses.

“Catherine Finkle stole thousands of dollars intended for the education and care of East Haven kids. When she was caught, her inability to accept her termination and resulting loss of benefits cost the town tens of thousands of dollars more in legal fees. She was convicted on federal criminal charges and forced to repay the town all that she stole. This decision ensures that taxpayers will be made whole for the full cost of Finkle’s misdeeds,” said Attorney General Tong. “State law requires that my office take action to revoke or reduce the pension of state or municipal officials convicted of corruption-related charges. Those who abuse their positions for personal gain must be held accountable.”

Under state statute enacted in 2008, the Attorney General is required to initiate a civil action seeking reduction or revocation of the pension of any state or municipal official or employee who, in state or federal court, is convicted of or pleads guilty to a crime related to their state or municipal office. Attorney General Tong filed a civil action to reduce Finkle’s pension in December 2021. The case was tried in Hartford Superior Court before Judge Amir Shaikh on May 5, 2025.
In a decision issued on August 28, Judge Shaikh reduced Finkle’s pension by $500 per month for eight years and nine months, after which she will receive her full pension. The amount of the reduction equals the amount of the town’s unreimbursed legal fees.

In addition to the pension revocation, Finkle has paid the town $38,544.50 in restitution as part of her criminal plea. She was further ordered to pay a $20,000 fine, required to perform 50 hours of community service, and sentenced to three years of probation, the first six months of which Finkle spent in home confinement.

Any state or municipal official convicted on corruption-related charges – defined specifically in the law as embezzling public funds; committing felony theft from the state; bribery in connection with one's service as a state or municipal employee; or committing a felony with intent to defraud in order to obtain a profit, gain or advantage for themselves or someone else – could face court action to reduce or revoke their pension.

In determining whether to revoke or reduce a pension, the court is required to consider the following factors: (1) the severity of the crime; (2) the amount of monetary loss; (3) the degree of public trust reposed in the defendant; (4) if the crime was part of a fraudulent scheme, the role of the defendant in the scheme; and (5) any such other factors as, in the judgment of the court, justice may require.

Assistant Attorney General Richard Porter, Paralegal Orlean Woodham, and Deputy Associate Attorney General Gregory O’Connell, Chief of the Government Fraud Section assisted the Attorney General in this matter.

Twitter: @AGWilliamTong

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Media Contact:

Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov

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