MILFORD — The judicial marshal accused of groping a 19-year-old female inmate who allegedly "flashed" him in exchange for sweets, was fired today with the conclusion of an internal judicial branch investigation into his conduct.

Manfred Vives, 39, of Reverend Taylor Drive in Ansonia, on April 11 was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault for allegedly grabbing the woman's breast through the bars of the Milford Superior Court lockup last fall.

In a termination letter dated Monday, Joseph D'Alesio, the state Superior Court's director of operations, told Vives that he is dismissed as of today for violating 17 sections of the judicial marshals' mission statement and code of ethics.

"I find that just cause exists to impose discipline upon you," D'Alesio wrote.

Vives was placed on paid administrative leave Nov. 8, two days after the allegations came to light, pending the outcome of the internal investigation.

He is scheduled to appear in court May 19 to answer the charges with his Bridgeport lawyer, Megan McLaughlin.

The inmate told other marshals and police that she had flirted with Vives, and also lifted her shirt on at least three occasions last fall — even kissing a female cell mate at his request — in exchange for doughnuts and cookies from him, according to a 13-page arrest warrant filed in Milford court. The inmate didn't want Vives arrested, she said, because he "did not force me to do anything. I was not intimidated by Marshal

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Vives, but I did feel a little uncomfortable with [him] after he grabbed my breast," the warrant states.

In a January written statement to police, Vives denied any misconduct, suggesting that he was being targeted because he had expressed concerns about the safety of the courthouse lockup and that, as a result, court supervisors wanted him removed, the warrant states.

Vives was a judicial marshal in Bridgeport courts from 1999 until last July, when he was appointed a supervisor in Milford.