FORMER ADDISON COUNTY Sheriff Peter Newton appears for a change of plea hearing in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington on Jan. 24.
Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

BURLINGTON — Former Addison County Sheriff Peter Newton, accused in 2022 of sexually assaulting and unlawfully restraining a woman, pleaded guilty to lesser charges of lewd and lascivious conduct and simple assault during a court appearance on Jan. 24.

During the proceedings, Judge John Pacht stated that Newton was charged with intentionally engaging in behavior that was “open and gross” as well as “lewd and lascivious,” with the intent of sexual gratification.

Newton had been accused of sexually assaulting, physically assaulting and unlawfully restraining a woman he knew in February 2022 while he was sheriff. He was first elected as sheriff in 2018. He declined to run for reelection in 2022.

At least two Addison County towns and numerous public officials asked Newton to resign at the time of his arrest, but lawmakers didn’t take on the arduous task of removing him from office.

For the lewd and lascivious conduct charge, Newton would receive a deferred sentence with probation for two years, and if completed successfully, the charge would be expunged. For the simple assault, he would face a suspended sentence of six to 12 months with two years of probation, according to the terms of the plea agreement that was filed earlier in January.

The judge deferred acceptance of the plea, ordering a pre-sentence investigation and a psychosexual evaluation, including a screening to determine if Newton needed alcohol or mental health counseling.

“Deferred sentence can either be a really good deal for a defendant, or perhaps not such a good deal for a defendant, that really depends on how well someone does during the two-year period of probation,” the judge said.

Newton must also complete a 26-week domestic violence counseling program, refrain from owning firearms or other deadly weapons, and is prohibited from working as a law enforcement officer under conditions of the agreement.