By Guy Page
A Groton man accused of stabbing another man in Woodsville, N.H., last November could soon be released from jail after a judge significantly reduced his bail amount on Wednesday.
According to the Sept. 3 Caledonian-Record, Brandon Lackie, 37, has been held since his arrest and arraignment in Caledonia Superior Court on Dec. 31. Previous rulings by judges had kept him jailed. But in her first week presiding over criminal court in Caledonia and Essex counties, Judge Heather Gray lowered Lackie’s bail from $20,000 to $2,000.
“While the court believes that there needs to be some monetary (bail requirement), the court’s going to maintain the $20,000, but it’s going to be an appearance bond with 10 percent down,” Gray said during the hearing.
The ruling drew opposition from the victim’s family. Marissa Levesque, the wife of stabbing victim John Faucette, testified that she would feel “very unsafe” if Lackie were released.
Defense attorneys argued that the state’s failure to deliver timely lab results from a cheek swab has deprived Lackie of due process while he remains in custody.
Lackie has a lengthy history with law enforcement. In addition to the November stabbing arrest, he was arrested in October for jumping naked on cars on a Connecticut River bridge, and in September on multiple charges including being a fugitive from justice.
Gray, who was appointed to the Vermont Superior Court in 2021, has an extensive background in criminal law. She previously worked as a prosecutor in Franklin County and as a traffic safety resource prosecutor for the Vermont Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs.
If Lackie is able to post bail, he would be released while his criminal case continues.