Attorney Wants
Investigation of Pease
By Cornelia Cesari

Now, the tables are being turned with regards to a disputed Dec. 20 confrontation in the Orange County Courthouse.

Two weeks ago, the Vermont Attorney General's office announced that it would not be bringing assault charges against Orange County Court Clerk Emily Newman and her deputy Lisa Eastman, despite allegations made by Assistant Judge Prudence Pease.

In the latest development, Newman's attorney Oreste Valsangiacomo requested in a March 5 letter that Atty. Gen. William Sorrell continue to investigate the case, this time with a focus on the conduct of Pease.

Atty. Valsangiacomo would like the AG’s office to determine whether Judge Pease committed the criminal act of filing a false report to law enforcement authorities.

Further, he wrote, "if Assistant Judge Pease submitted her statement under oath, then Title 13 section 2904 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated (perjury) may also have been violated."

Atty. Duncan Kilmartin, who represents Eastman, told The Herald that he has "not yet had time to contact the attorney general's office." However, he said, "Based on my reading of the State Police investigation, and personal observations made at the January budget meeting, I think Attorney Valsangiacomo's requests are eminently reasonable."

Assistant Attorney General John Treadwell acknowledged receipt of Valsangiacomo’s letter but declined to comment any further.