Greenwich Woman Pleads Guilty on Voyeurism Charges for Secretly Filming Minors

In Greenwich, Valentine’s Day 2022 will be remembered for severe cold warnings, heart shaped boxes of chocolate and word of the alleged lewd crimes of a local woman, Hadley Palmer.

It began as a slow news day, given thousands of Greenwich Public Schools students had just started February vacation.

And while Greenwich Police have lately grown weary of warning residents to lock their cars, given the frequency of out-of-town teens stealing them in the overnight hours, and the recent wave of organized retail thefts in the upscale stores that line Greenwich Avenue, the criminal case of Hadley Laurens Palmer, 53, was unusual.

Hadley Palmer. Photo Courtesy Greenwich Police Dept

Palmer, who lives in Belle Haven and has four children with her estranged financier husband, Bradley, was described in headlines on Monday as a socialite whose father is hedge fund pioneer Jerrold Fine.

In addition to smiling for cameras at fundraisers, Palmer allegedly liked to film children.

Palmer’s arrest was by warrant on October 25, 2021. After turning herself in at police headquarters in October on an outstanding warrant signed by Judge Huddock of Stamford Superior Court, she was charged by Greenwich Police with Risk of Injury to a Child, 3 counts of Voyeurism, Employing a Minor in Obscene Performance, Conspiracy to Commit/Employ a Minor in Obscene Performance and Illegal Possession of Child Porn 2.

According to the GPD Criminal Information Summary, the incidents took place at the Palmer’s waterfront home in Belle Haven back on March 11, 2017.

Also, per the Dept of Justice website, and additional charge of Violating Condition of Release first degree, a class D Felony, dates to October 2021. The arresting agency in that charge was the State’s Attorney’s office in Stamford.

The Greenwich Police Captain Mark Zuccerella said the warrant information was sealed, therefore he would not release any information other than to say there were three victims, all minors.

According to the CIS, back in October, Palmer’s bond was set at $750,000, which she was not immediately able to post and she was brought to Stamford Superior Court.

Neil Vigdor, writing for the New York Times, said that according to authorities, secret video recordings showed children in intimate situations filmed without their knowledge.

Associated Press had been pushing to make the story public. That didn’t happen until last moth when Palmer pleaded guilty to three counts of Voyeurism and one charge of Risk of Injury to a Minor, all felonies.

According to Associated Press, as part of Palmer’s plea deal, prosecutor Daniel Cummings dropped the two most serious charges — Employing a Minor in an Obscene Performance, a Class A felony, and Possession of Child Pornography.

Judge John Blawie in Stamford Superior Court, ruled Thursday that the case should be sealed.

Debate raged Monday on the internet about whether privacy of the minor victims outweighed access to court records.

On Twitter, there were comments that the US has two systems of justice, one for the wealthy and one for everyone else. “No perp walk. No mugshots. No public record of court dates,” read one Tweet. “Child abuser finally outed by the New York Times,” another person Tweeted.

According to the CT Judicial Branch case look up on line, Palmer is represented by MeehanLaw LLC and her guilty pleas were for class C and D Felonies.

Additionally, child psychologist Dr. Jerome Brodlie, 83, of Weston, was charged with intentionally not reporting Palmer’s alleged crimes to the authorities, which he is required to do. According to the Judicial Branch website his case is awaiting disposition. While his file is sealed, his next court appearance is scheduled for March 30, 2022.

According to the New York Times, Palmer applied in October for Accelerated Rehabilitation, which is usually offered to first-time offenders in lower-level criminal cases to avoid jail time. She later withdrew that application and agreed in January to plead guilty to the three voyeurism charges and single count of risk of injury to a minor, along with registering as a sex offender.

While her formal sentencing hearing is not until August, Palmer was admitted on Feb 4 to the York Correctional Institution, a women’s prison in Niantic.

Prosecutors have recommended Palmer serve 90 days to 5 years in prison with 20 years of probation.