Jail for Rich Man, Poor Man, Astronaut, Pilot, Thief

A judge refused to reduce bail for a man charged with larceny and defrauding his wife and her family by impersonating an astronaut and using their credit cards without permission.

Robert Hunt, 27, of suburban Medford was held on $100,000 surety or $10,000 cash bail.

His attorney, James Cipoletta, asked District Court Judge Frederick Doyle on Wednesday to reduce the bail to $1,000 cash but the district attorney told the judge he did not think Hunt would remain in the area if released on bail.

“He (Hunt) is becoming increasingly disappointed,” Cipoletta said. “He feels he’s being unfairly accused of being a con man.”

Hunt was arrested after State Trooper Andrew Palombo began a private investigation into the case. Palombo heard about Hunt from a Saugus family who allegedly paid him $2,000 to get their son out of the Navy.

“He had convinced an 18-year-old to enlist in the Navy, then he told the parents he could get the boy out of it for $2,000,” Palombo said.

The family allegedly gave Hunt a $2,000 check, which he said was no good and demanded cash, which they gave him. He then cashed the check as well, Palombo said.

During the investigation, Palombo said he discovered Hunt had impersonated an array of people. During the last eight years he married at least four times and allegedly posed as a space shuttle astronaut, a baby powder manufacturer, a professional baseball player, a successful contractor, a Marine captain and jet pilot.

Officials say he was none of those things.

His wife of five months, Ann Sweeney, had believed him. However, she filed for divorce Wednesday.

Hunt’s astronaut impersonation, complete with a NASA space suit and helmet, won the praise of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, who made Hunt an honorary citizen of Ireland during a visit.

Hunt also dressed in full Marine colors and gave one of his wives a tour of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., where he claimed to have graduated first in his class.

On a flight to Montreal, Hunt was invited into the cockpit where he explained to the pilot how he landed the space shuttle Atlantis, Palombo said.

After arresting Hunt, Palombo said he asked him one question on the way to the police station in Boston.

“I asked him a question and he launched into a 15-minute soliloquy about corporate takeovers,” Palombo said. “Finally I said, ‘Cut the bull and admit you’re not an astronaut.’ ”

Hunt paused and said, “There’s no law against pretending to be an astronaut.”