And given release conditions by judge despite felony charge
By Guy Page
A Lyndon man whose arrest and prompt release in June spurred an angry letter from a state senator was found passed out in a stolen car in St. Johnsbury Sunday, July 9.
At the request of the local prosecutor, Christopher DeGreenia, 33, of Lyndon was “flash cited” by local police and released for a July 10 court appearance. In court he pleaded innocent and allowed to be released on conditions and $500 bail – despite having Habitual Offender status, according to local police.
DeGreenia is well-known to local police, and to readers of local media and Vermont Daily Chronicle readers. The June 1 VDC reported that DeGreenia, while prohibited from possessing firearms, was jailed after police found him in St. Johnsbury in a car with a loaded AR-15 propped up on his knee. He also was found in possession of cocaine. However, he was released by Judge Justin Jiron on conditions and low bail, prompting Sen. Russ Ingalls (R-Essex/Caledonia) to exclaim in a letter to fellow senators, “An assault weapon, cocaine and warrants, and is out on $200 bail, and this guy [Jiron] is still a Judge!?”
The charges faced by DeGreenia reportedly were misdemeanor gun possession and drug charges, therefore limiting bail to $200 by state law, the Caledonian-Record reported today.
According to a St. Johnsbury police report, on July 9 police officers Jasmine Hendry, McKendrick Johnson and Davis Guyer were dispatched to a report of two individuals passed out in a vehicle, at the gas pumps of Maplefields. Upon arrival, they found Degreenia and Brandy Moses, with Degreenia in operation of a Red Nissan Altima, which was reported stolen on July 5 by William Debonville. Degreenia was also in violation of his conditions of release, both a 24-hour curfew and not to operate any motor vehicle, police say.
Since the vehicle was reported stolen more than 24 hours before it was recovered, Degreenia was charged with Aggravated Operation Without Owner’s Consent (Felony). Being charged with this Felony made Degreenia a Habitual Offender as he had more than three prior felony convictions in Vermont, police say.
Degreenia was Flash Cited by St. J PD to appear in Vermont Superior Court, Caledonia Unit Monday, July 10 to face the charges. When VDC inquired about the reason for the flash citation, Ofc. Guyer responded that it was at the request of the deputy county prosecutor.
In, DeGreenia pleaded innocent and was allowed to be released on conditions and $500 bail, the Caledonian-Record reported.