Sheriff declines to step down after his arrest

Sheriff Peter Newton rebuffed multiple calls for his resignation, including from Addison County High Bailiff Dave Silberman, who’s limited authority includes serving in the sheriff’s stead if that person is in custody.

MIDDLEBURY — Annie initially decided she’d to try to forget she’d been raped, rather than report it to police and risk having to relive the traumatic episode over and over again. “I tried to forget, but I was having nightmares almost daily,” the Addison C … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Like many institutions of higher education around the country, Middlebury College is navigating a fine line in its compliance with changes in the federal rules concerning sexual assault allegations on campus, and its own rules that try to min … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury police received a report about the alleged sexual assault of a woman by a man at a Court Street residence on Dec. 13. Police said the case is under investigation. In other action last week, Middlebury police: • Were informed of the … (read more)

Editor’s note: This story involves juvenile court cases, the details of which are sealed by the courts. The parents of victims in the case have agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity for themselves and their children. The juvenile victims in this c … (read more)

WEYBRIDGE — A 27-year-old Weybridge man on Aug. 21 pleaded innocent in Chittenden Superior Court, criminal division, to four charges — including felony sexual assault — stemming from an alleged relationship with a 14-year-old girl. In addition to sexual a … (read more)

WEYBRIDGE — A Weybridge man was slated to be arraigned at the Addison County Courthouse on Wednesday, Aug. 21, on sex-related felony charges stemming from allegations he tried to lure a juvenile to engage in a sexual act earlier this month. Travis Cram, 2 … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — An Addison County jury on Aug. 7 convicted a Vergennes man of lewd & lascivious conduct with a child under the age of 16. The defendant, 39-year-old Steven R. Desjardin, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 14. Vergennes police were notified … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — The Vermont Supreme Court has rejected an Orwell man’s appeal of his 2017 conviction on a charge of aggravated sexual assault on a minor. It was in January of 2017 that an Addison County jury convicted Rein Kolts on the felony charge, relatin … (read more)