SOMERS, Conn. -- State officials say a serial rapist who attacked women in several Connecticut towns will face some of the strictest probation conditions in the state when he is released from prison this week.

David Pollitt, 54, formerly of Clinton, has served more than 24 years in prison for sexual assaults on women in Old Lyme, Waterford, Killingworth, Rocky Hill and Wallingford. Police also suspected him of rapes in other towns in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

State Correction Department records show that Pollitt is at the Osborn Correctional Institution in Somers and is due to be released Friday at the latest. He will serve five years of probation.

Pollitt is expected to live with his sister at her Southbury home.

"I was notified by a neighbor that he was moving in to the neighborhood," said Kevin Powers, who lives a few houses down. He said his reaction was of disbelief, saying he was scared.

Anthony Recupero had no idea Pollitt was moving in across the street until he got a letter from Pollitt's sister, who asked neighbors for their understanding.

What shocked Recupero was a statement in the letter: "My family and I believe without a doubt that David has been wrongfully convicted."

In 25 years behind bars, Pollitt has never admitted his guilt nor has he received any therapy.

"The letter basically stated that they believed him to be innocent. But when you read other articles, there's a lot more to it than that," Recupero said.

Nancy Gunning felt she had to tell her children, and it wasn't easy.

"I just feel terrible doing that to them because they're going to have to be made aware," she said. "You don't want to have to do that to children. You don't want to take their fun away. You don't want to take their childhood away."

"I have to be very cautious now. When I want to go out running and stuff, I just can't. I have to be more aware of myself now," said Meghan Gunning, Nancy Gunning's 16-year-old daughter.

State Promises To Monitor Pollitt

Under his probation conditions, Pollitt will have to wear a monitoring bracelet that will be used to track his whereabouts by satellite, register with the state as a sex offender for the rest of his life and notify police of his address every three months.

He must also undergo sex offender evaluation and treatment, notify probation officials of existing or new romantic or sexual relationships, have no contact with his victims, not hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers, not date or socialize with anyone who has children under 16 unless approved by probation officials and stay away from schools, parks, playground or other areas frequented by children under 16.

Probation officials will also have authority over where Pollitt lives and works and what kind of electronic equipment he can own.

Officials with the Department of Adult Probation say they will monitor Pollitt closely, because he committed "stranger rapes" and may have problems adjusting to life outside prison after serving a long sentence.

"I can see it taking him a long time to get readjusted," said Chief Probation Officer William Anselmo, who heads the department's sex offender program.

Pollitt Had Little To No Treatment, Officials Say

Probation officials said Pollitt had little or no sex offender treatment in prison and he amassed seven disciplinary reports. He has never publicly acknowledged that he raped the women, but his treatment while on probation will require him to take responsibility for the crimes.

At the time of the attacks, Pollitt was a heavy equipment operator for Amtrak and lived in Clinton with his wife and two children. A court official said his wife and children left the area while he was in prison and are no longer part of his life.

State's Attorney Michael L. Regan said two of Pollitt's victims in Waterford and Old Lyme were picked at random, and the seriousness of the crimes has not faded with time.

"This was a serial rapist. ... This is your worst nightmare," Regan said.

Pollitt's victims may have different reactions to his release, said Georgette J. Katin, director of the Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern Connecticut.

"For some victims, clearly this is going to bring back the memories of the offense, bring back the feelings," Katin said."It's going to cause anxiety and concerns for personal safety. For other victims, they may handle it in a different way."

Pollitt's sister refused to comment when asked by Eyewitness News, but her attorney said Pollitt will be under close watch and tight probation.

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