VEMONT — On Nov. 20, a Sudbury man pleaded innocent to a charge of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child after an investigation by Vermont State Police.
VSP Det. Andrew Todd said in a press release that state police on Sept. 4 received a report that James A. Bartshe, 47, had allegedly sexually assaulted a minor in Sudbury. The Rutland Unit for Special Investigations, a multi-disciplinary team that investigates, prosecutes and serves victims of sex crimes and child victims of severe physical abuse, investigated the report and determined that Bartshe had been sexually abusing the child for approximately seven years, according to Todd.
Based upon the investigation, police went to Bartshe’s Sudbury home, took him into custody and lodged him at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility with bail set at $50,000.
Bartshe was arraigned in Rutland Superior Court, criminal division, last Friday, where he entered his innocent plea.
A status conference is scheduled for Jan. 4.
In other recent activity, state police:
•  On Nov. 17 at 3:30 p.m. responded to a two-vehicle crash on Route 7 in New Haven, at the entrance to the gas station south of the police barracks. Police report that a 2014 GMC truck driven by Mark Wilber, 50, of Pittsford had stopped on the highway to make a left turn into the gas station when it was struck from the rear by a southbound 2008 Hyundai hatchback driven by Matthew Wright, 27, of North Chittenden. After striking the truck, the Hyundai, which police said had been traveling at 50 mph, slid off of the right side of Route 7. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts, and no injuries were reported. Members of the New Haven Fire Department and Middlebury Regional EMS were on scene and provided assistance to the state police and the two drivers. No court action was anticipated.
•  On Nov. 18 at a little before 6 p.m. went to the same location on Route 7 to look into a complaint called in by a Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department officer. Police reported that 25-year-old driver Cabdiqaani Kadawe of Winooski missed the two entrances to the gas station parking lot and drove into a culvert and then over the lawn before parking his vehicle. Police said their investigation showed that Kadawe was driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs.  Kadawe provided a preliminary sample of his breath and his blood alcohol content was measured at 0.014 percent; the legal limit is 0.08.
Police took Kadawe into custody, took him to the New Haven barracks, and processed and cited him for suspicion of DUI drugs. 
•  Responded to a one-car crash on Hamilton Road in Weybridge on Nov. 18 at approximately 4:20 p.m. Upon arrival, the trooper found a Subaru Forester that was totaled, but the driver could not be identified because he or she had left the scene, taking the license plates from the vehicle. Police believe that alcohol and/or drugs played a factor in the collision. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vermont State Police at 802-388-4919 or submit an anonymous tip by texting “CRIMES” (274637) with keyword VTIPS or by going online to http://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
•  On Nov. 19 at 10:52 p.m. went to a North Main Street residence in Whiting for a reported assault. Police said their investigation showed that Victoria A. Hunt, 19, of Whiting had assaulted an 18-year-old Leicester resident with a wrench. The Leicester resident was treated at the Rutland Regional Medical Center. Troopers cited Hunt for aggravated assault with a weapon and lodged her at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility with bail set at $2,500.
•  On Nov. 23 at approximately 12:30 p.m. rushed to a reported fight at Keith’s Country Store on Route 7 in Pittsford. Police allege that 30-year-old Brandon resident Krista Crowe had physically assaulted another female at the store and then driven away. The victim departed the store and spoke with law enforcement across the street and Crowe was located a short distance away in Brandon. Police cited Crowe for simple assault.
HOLIDAY TRAFFIC PATROLS
To ensure Vermont highways remain safe over the Thanksgiving holiday, Vermont State Police will be participating in the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign and in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) from Nov. 25 through Nov. 29. Vermont has experienced 48 traffic fatalities so far this in 2015.
By using high-visibility enforcement coupled with education, police hope to promote responsible driving. Troopers said that traffic enforcement is the single most effective tool in saving lives and detecting and deterring criminal activity.
The state police priority remains on occupant protection, as well as impaired and aggressive driving. They said troopers would organize data-driven patrols and checkpoints.