Sgt Fahey Connecticut Lawsuit Update 2026: Reyes Case, Settlement Status & Appeal Timeline
Quick Answer
- What happened? Reyes was convicted of misdemeanor trespassing for entering Fahey’s Groton driveway in July 2025.
- Is there a settlement? No. The federal civil rights case against Fahey is still active with no settlement announced.
- Key date: Reyes intends to appeal the criminal conviction. The federal lawsuit has no trial date set.
The Sgt Fahey Connecticut lawsuit update for 2026 centers on two separate legal tracks involving former state police sergeant Bryan Fahey and YouTuber SeanPaul Reyes. The criminal case ended with a conviction on September 3, 2026. The federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Reyes against Fahey remains unresolved.
If you’re following this case, the distinction matters. The criminal trespassing charge is a state matter that concluded with a guilty finding. The federal lawsuit is a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 that seeks monetary damages from Fahey personally.
This article breaks down both tracks: what the criminal conviction means, where the federal lawsuit stands, what damages Reyes is seeking, and what happens next on appeal. You’ll also learn why the “Sgt Fahey lawsuit” search term pulls up multiple unrelated Connecticut cases, and how to tell them apart.
The Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Federal Case | Reyes v. Lavoie, et al. |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut |
| Case Number | 3:24-cv-01174 |
| Status | Pending. No settlement. No trial date. |
| Damages Sought | $75,000+ compensatory; $500,000 punitive |
| Criminal Conviction | September 3, 2026 (trespassing) |
| Criminal Sentence | Suspended 3 months, 1 year probation |
| Appeal Status | Reyes intends to appeal |
Is the Sgt Fahey Connecticut lawsuit real or just talk?
The Sgt Fahey Connecticut lawsuit is real. SeanPaul Reyes filed a federal civil rights complaint against Bryan Fahey in 2024, and the case remains active in U.S. District Court.
This isn’t a rumor or a viral claim. The complaint was filed in the District of Connecticut and assigned case number 3:24-cv-01174. It names Bryan Fahey and other defendants including Charles Lavoie and Officer Costello .
The lawsuit arises from two incidents. The first occurred on July 23, 2021, when Reyes was filming police activity. The second occurred on June 16, 2023, when Reyes attempted to enter a police building .
The criminal case is separate. Groton Town Police arrested Reyes on July 11, 2025, after he walked up Fahey’s driveway and knocked on his door. That case went to trial in August 2026, and Judge Cody N. Guarnieri found Reyes guilty of criminal trespassing on September 3, 2026 .
Key Takeaway: Two separate legal tracks exist. The federal civil rights lawsuit is ongoing, and the criminal trespassing case ended in conviction.
How much is the Sgt Fahey lawsuit settlement per person?
No settlement amount exists because the Sgt Fahey federal lawsuit has not settled. The case remains pending with no payout determined.
Reyes’s complaint seeks specific damages. He asks for compensatory damages exceeding $75,000 and punitive damages of $500,000 against Fahey. He also seeks attorney’s fees and costs under 42 U.S.C. § 1988 .
Those are demand figures, not awards. No judge or jury has ruled on the merits. No mediation has produced a settlement. No dollar amount has been agreed to by the parties.
| Claim | Amount Sought |
|---|---|
| Compensatory damages | $75,000+ |
| Punitive damages | $500,000 |
| Attorney’s fees | Under § 1988 |
| Total demand | $575,000+ |
If the case settles, the amount would depend on negotiation. If it goes to trial, a jury would decide. Neither has happened yet.
Key Takeaway: The lawsuit seeks over $575,000, but no settlement or judgment has established any payout.
How do you check the status of the Sgt Fahey lawsuit?
You can check the status of the Sgt Fahey lawsuit through the federal court docket for case 3:24-cv-01174 in the District of Connecticut.
The case is publicly accessible. Docket entries show filings, motions, and scheduling orders. As of September 2026, no trial date has been set and no settlement conference has been scheduled.
Here’s what to look for when checking case status:
- Docket number: 3:24-cv-01174 in D. Conn.
- Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
- Judge assigned: Check the docket header for the presiding judge
- Recent filings: Look for motions to dismiss, summary judgment, or settlement notices
- Scheduling order: If none exists, the case is still in early stages
The criminal case is separate. It was heard in state Superior Court in Danielson, Connecticut. The docket for that case would be under Reyes’s name and the trespassing charge .
Key Takeaway: The federal case docket is public. No trial date or settlement conference is currently scheduled.
What is the Sgt Fahey criminal trespassing conviction?
SeanPaul Reyes was convicted of criminal trespassing on September 3, 2026, for entering former Sgt. Bryan Fahey’s Groton property on July 11, 2025.
Judge Cody N. Guarnieri found Reyes guilty after a two-day bench trial in August 2026. The judge ruled that a “Private Road: Dead end, no turn around” sign was sufficient notice that the driveway was private .
Reyes argued he saw the sign but understood it to apply to vehicles, not pedestrians. He said he looked for “no trespassing” signs and did not see one. Three Groton police officers testified that a “no trespassing” sign was lying in brush alongside the driveway, not visibly posted .
The sentence was a suspended three-month prison term and one year of probation. Judge Guarnieri also issued four standing criminal protective orders covering each member of the Fahey family through 2099 .
Criminal trespassing is a class C misdemeanor in Connecticut. Reyes said he intends to appeal .
Key Takeaway: The criminal conviction carries no jail time but includes probation and long-term protective orders. Reyes plans to appeal.
What is the Sgt Fahey federal lawsuit about?
The federal lawsuit alleges that Bryan Fahey violated Reyes’s constitutional rights through excessive force, unlawful seizure, retaliation, and denial of access to a public building.
The complaint lists multiple counts under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Each count targets specific conduct .
| Count | Allegation | Incident Date |
|---|---|---|
| Count 5 | Unlawful seizure of phone | July 23, 2021 |
| Count 6 | Excessive force (grabbing, pushing) | July 23, 2021 |
| Count 7 | Excessive force (door) | June 16, 2023 |
| Count 8 | Unlawful seizure of phone | June 16, 2023 |
| Count 12 | First Amendment retaliation | July 23, 2021 |
| Count 13 | Denial of access to police building | June 16, 2023 |
Reyes claims Fahey retaliated against him for filming police activity. The First Amendment protects the right to record police in public. The complaint also names Officer Costello for failing to intervene in the 2021 excessive force incident .
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages from Fahey personally. It does not seek damages from the state of Connecticut.
Key Takeaway: The federal case is a § 1983 civil rights action alleging multiple constitutional violations across two incidents.
Is this the same as other Sgt Fahey Connecticut lawsuits?
No. Multiple Connecticut lawsuits involve people named Fahey, and they are unrelated to the Bryan Fahey case.
The “Sgt Fahey” search term pulls up several different matters. Former Guilford Police Sergeant Matthew Fahey won a federal civil rights trial in 2024 . A Connecticut State Police internal affairs case involved Trooper John Myer and a Norwalk man, not Fahey .
Other cases involve Connecticut State Police generally but not Bryan Fahey. The ACLU settled a First Amendment lawsuit against the state police in February 2026 over highway overpass protests . A Griswold man sued the state police over an arrest related to a trooper’s wife .
Bryan Fahey is a former state police sergeant from Groton. He was charged with disorderly conduct after spitting on Reyes during the July 2025 confrontation. He applied for accelerated rehabilitation, a diversionary program .
Key Takeaway: The Bryan Fahey case is distinct from other Connecticut lawsuits involving people named Fahey or state police misconduct claims.
What damages is Reyes seeking in the federal lawsuit?
Reyes seeks over $575,000 in his federal complaint, plus attorney’s fees and costs.
The complaint specifies compensatory damages exceeding $75,000 and punitive damages of $500,000 against Fahey. The same amounts are sought against other defendants in separate counts .
Punitive damages in § 1983 cases require showing that the defendant acted maliciously or with reckless disregard for constitutional rights. The complaint alleges Fahey’s conduct met that standard .
Compensatory damages would cover injury, mental anguish, and other losses. Reyes claims emotional distress and reputational harm from the incidents.
A jury would decide the actual amount if the case goes to trial. A settlement could produce a different number. No determination has been made yet.
| Damage Type | Amount Sought | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Compensatory | $75,000+ | Actual injury, emotional distress |
| Punitive | $500,000 | Malice or reckless disregard |
| Attorney’s fees | Unspecified | Prevailing party under § 1988 |
Key Takeaway: The complaint demands specific amounts, but no court has awarded any damages.
Reality Check
A criminal conviction does not automatically mean Reyes loses his federal civil rights lawsuit. The two cases have different legal standards and different burdens of proof. Criminal trespassing requires proving the defendant knowingly entered private property without permission. The federal lawsuit requires proving constitutional violations by a state actor. Reyes can lose the criminal appeal and still win the civil case, or the reverse. No settlement is imminent, and no payout amount has been established.
What happens next in the Sgt Fahey case?
Expected late 2026: Reyes files appeal of the criminal trespassing conviction in Connecticut state court.
TBD: Federal lawsuit scheduling. No trial date or settlement conference is currently set in case 3:24-cv-01174.
TBD: Any motion for summary judgment in the federal case would be filed before trial.
TBD: Fahey’s accelerated rehabilitation program in the disorderly conduct case. Completion could lead to dismissal of that charge.
TBD: Any settlement negotiations in the federal lawsuit. None have been announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a settlement in the Sgt Fahey lawsuit?
No. The federal civil rights lawsuit against Bryan Fahey remains pending with no settlement announced. The case is still active in U.S. District Court.
What was SeanPaul Reyes convicted of?
Reyes was convicted of misdemeanor criminal trespassing on September 3, 2026, for entering Bryan Fahey’s Groton driveway in July 2025.
How much money does Reyes want from the lawsuit?
Reyes seeks over $575,000 in damages: $75,000+ in compensatory damages and $500,000 in punitive damages, plus attorney’s fees.
Is Bryan Fahey still a Connecticut State Police sergeant?
No. Bryan Fahey has retired from the Connecticut State Police. He was placed on administrative leave after the July 2025 incident.
What is the Reyes v. Lavoie case?
Reyes v. Lavoie is the federal civil rights lawsuit filed by SeanPaul Reyes. It names Bryan Fahey, Charles Lavoie, and Officer Costello as defendants. The case number is 3:24-cv-01174.
Did Bryan Fahey face charges for spitting on Reyes?
Yes. Fahey was charged with disorderly conduct after spitting on Reyes during the July 2025 confrontation. He applied for accelerated rehabilitation, a diversionary program.
How do I check the status of the federal lawsuit?
The case docket for 3:24-cv-01174 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut is publicly accessible.
What happens if the federal lawsuit settles?
A settlement would resolve the civil claims against Fahey and any other defendants. The amount would be negotiated between the parties. No settlement has been reached.
The criminal case is decided, but the federal civil rights lawsuit is not. If you’re following this case, track the docket for 3:24-cv-01174 and watch for any scheduling order or settlement notice. The next major development will likely be Reyes’s criminal appeal filing or a motion in the federal case. The single most important fact: no settlement exists, and no trial date is set.
