By Mike Donoghue
Vermont News First

BURLINGTON — A two-year old driving while intoxicated court case against besieged Addison County State’s Attorney Eva P. Vekos appeared to come to a close Tuesday when she pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge.

Vekos, who was responding to a homicide scene in Bridport to assist Vermont State Police, had her sentence deferred for six months by State Judge John Pacht.

If Vekos abides by the terms of probation for six months, the criminal conviction can be wiped off her record, Pacht explained during the 28-minute court hearing.

Vekos had indicated in October that she was willing to plead no contest, and Pacht said at the time he was inclined to defer the sentence for 3 months. Upon further review and a presentence report, Pacht said Tuesday he wanted to make it 6 months.

Defense lawyer David Sleigh and Pacht both noted that normally a first-time offender in a DUI case in both Chittenden and Addison Counties would be offered a chance to go through a Court Diversion program and avoid a conviction.

Assistant Attorney General Rose Kennedy said the state believed Vekos was getting special treatment and that she had failed to accept responsibility for her actions.

Kennedy, the former longtime Rutland County prosecutor, said Vekos continues to claim she had not completed one full gin and tonic drink at home. If true, she would have passed a breath test, Kennedy said.

“I don’t think we would be here,” Kennedy said.

Sleigh said he agreed Vekos was getting special treatment.

“It’s more severe,” Sleigh said.

He said Vekos remains under attack and noted there was another recent “hit piece in the local press.”

The plea change also ended a pending defense motion by Sleigh seeking to have the charge dismissed in the interests of justice.

The veteran St. Johnsbury defense lawyer has maintained Vekos has faced more punishment than most people charged with DUI.

Pacht noted Vekos had lost her driver’s license for six months and had undergone alcohol counseling.

The judge ordered Vekos to abide by the standard conditions of probation. Pacht also told Vekos she was prohibited for the next 6 months from drinking alcoholic beverages to the extent they would interfere with the welfare of herself or any other person or impact her employment.

Pacht said the outcome of the case was unclear if it went to trial. He said one state trooper reported he did not smell any alcohol and no slurred speech. Others did smell alcohol and she pulled up a scarf over her mouth, he said.

Vekos was released on conditions at her arraignment and has apparently followed all the restrictions for almost two years.

Vermont State Police arrested Vekos after she was called to the homicide scene in Bridport on Jan. 25, 2024. She refused a court-approved breath test and would not submit to having her mugshot and fingerprints collected when taken to the state police barracks in New Haven for processing.

The case strained relations with law enforcement agencies in Addison County, especially state police.

State police later brokered an unannounced deal with the Vermont Attorney General’s Office to prosecute their felony cases. 

State police spokesman Adam Silverman told Vermont News First this afternoon that the agreement will remain in place for the foreseeable future. 

Vekos, 56, of Middlebury initially pleaded not guilty in Vermont Superior Court in Middlebury on Feb. 12 to the DUI charge. Chief Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Zonay ordered her case moved to Chittenden County.

Vekos is in her first term as the elected state’s attorney for Addison County. After her arrest Vekos lost her law license for 12 days and she had to notify people she was prosecuting about the reason for the delay in their cases.

All but one senator in the Addison County legislative delegation signed a letter asking her to step down.

Officials say there has been a large turnover in deputy prosecutors and victim advocates serving the office.