By Guy Page
Most of the crime coverage in the Chronicle is at the police/arrest level. Covering cases as they proceed through the courts is slow and time-consuming. We cover what we can.
Once in a while – actually, twice in recent months – we’ve been contacted by people charged with crimes published in the VDC, asking that we also report that the charges have been dismissed, expunged or sealed in their favor. For example:
Michoni Campbell of Detroit, MI was charged by Burlington police with possession of cocaine and methamphetamines and conspiracy to sell fentanyl. VDC covered the Burlington police version of the bust here.
In January of this year, Superior Court Judge John Pacht ordered his record be sealed for one or more of these three reasons: “the court did not find probable cause, or the charge was dismissed without prejudice, or no party objected to sealing the criminal history record, or the Court has found that the interests of justice favor sealing.”
In August, VDC received this email from Campbell: “While I understand the role of public reporting, I was not convicted in this matter, and the case has since been dismissed and sealed.
“The continued availability of this article online has caused significant personal and professional hardship. It affects employment opportunities, community standing, and personal well-being, despite the fact that the legal system has cleared me of wrongdoing.
“I kindly ask that you consider removing the article, or at least updating it to reflect the dismissal and closure of the case. Doing so would allow me the opportunity to move forward without the ongoing stigma of a past accusation that no longer holds relevance.”
VDC didn’t expunge the original news story, but we did update it with the new information.
In another case, charges of choking his mother were dismissed against a Westminster man.
Cole Williams, 20, allegedly attempted to strangle his mother at their home in September, 2024. The charges were later dismissed. In a letter to VDC, Williams’ mother said the Burr and Burton grad has suffered severe mental and emotional problems following a June, 2023 motorcycle accident.