A plea deal is in the works for the former Addison County sheriff accused in 2022 of sexually assaulting and unlawfully restraining a woman. Under the agreement, Peter Newton would plead guilty to reduced charges and avoid jail time.

William Kidney, a public defender representing Newton, filed the proposed plea deal late last month in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington. The case had been transferred to Chittenden County to avoid any conflicts with having the matter heard in Addison County.

According to the document, Newton has agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge of lewd and lascivious conduct and a misdemeanor charge of simple assault. A judge will review the proposed agreement, which has been signed by the state prosecutor, at a hearing later this month.

The proposal calls for Newton’s sentence on the felony charge to be deferred for two years and the conviction would be cleared from his record if he abides by several conditions. Those conditions include that he undergo screening to determine if he needs alcohol, mental health or domestic violence counseling, according to court filings. If the screening determines Newton needs treatment in any of those areas, he must complete it, court documents stated.

Other conditions of the two-year deferred sentence agreement call for Newton to not work in law enforcement, and that he “shall attend counseling with a licensed provider” to “address any issues outlined in the psychosexual evaluation.”

On the simple assault charge, Newton would be sentenced to six to 12 months in jail, all suspended on probation, according to the proposed plea agreement.

Newton had been accused of sexually assaulting, physically assaulting and unlawfully restraining a woman he knew in February 2022 while he was sheriff.

Following his arrest, he pleaded not guilty in June 2022 to two charges of sexual assault as well as single counts of unlawful restraint and domestic assault.

If convicted of the charges initially brought against him, Newton faced up to life in prison.

The former sheriff has been free on conditions since his arrest. He did not run for a third term in 2022, announcing that decision before charges were filed as the case was under investigation.

Although many officials called for him to resign after the charges were filed, Newton refused to. The process for removing a sheriff in Vermont must go through the Legislature and is cumbersome.

Newton is set for a change of plea hearing before Judge John Pacht on Jan. 24, when the proposed plea deal is expected to be presented to the court.

Kidney, Newton’s attorney, declined to comment on the proposed plea deal Tuesday.

The Vermont Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case to avoid any potential conflict that could arise with local prosecutors in Addison County.

Assistant Attorney General Sophie Stratton, who signed the proposed plea deal with Newton, could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

Amelia Vath, a spokesperson for the office, declined comment.

Newton’s case was previously set for trial in February 2024. However, the case faced repeated delays.