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Opinion: Legal system culpable in release of repeat offender

I feel compelled to comment on the horrific and untimely death of one of our upstanding community members, Kelly Boe. I cannot tell you how many times I have opened the paper to see that a driver with a number of DUIs is caught yet again driving with a suspended license! How many chances does a driver disobeying the laws have to make a decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and risk the lives of innocent people?
As far as I am concerned, the judge and lawyers who allowed Nathan Dearing his freedom have accountability in their part in Kelly Boe’s death. Mr. Dearing has many concerning and serious problems. According to the article (Addison Independent, April 16, 2015), Nathan Dearing has four previous convictions in five years for driving with a suspended license (for various reasons including but not limited to a DUI). Obviously he is not a law abiding citizen so cannot be expected to abide by his sentence not to drive. Our world is based on trust. He has failed to appear in court seven times between 2008-2011.
And to quote “… if bail is posted, he is prohibited from driving any vehicle (or) consuming any alcoholic beverages…” His bail has been set at $75,000 by Judge Robert Mello. Did I really read that correctly? Yet again Nathan Dearing has an opportunity to avoid jail, drink to excess and get behind the wheel of a vehicle, which should be redefined as a heavy moving weapon in this case.
Also note that on many of Mr. Dearing’s previous convictions he has been released early and not held fully accountable. It is time the lawyers and judges involved in these numerous cases also be held responsible. I see no other way to put an end to this horribly unbalanced state of affairs in our Vermont legal system. This loophole needs to be remedied, although it is too late for Kelly Boe and his traumatized family.
Literally every time I open our local paper, there is mention of a driver with numerous DUIs caught out on the roads with a suspended license. Everyone should think twice before heading out on the roads in the state of Vermont. Our state appears deceivingly beautiful, but oh what danger lurks!
 Barbara Kaiser
Sanibel, Fla./Cornwall, Vt. 

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