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Vermont Supreme Court Reinstates 19-Year Sentence for Fatal Hit-and-Run Case
Rutland, VT – The Vermont Supreme Court has reinstated a 19-year prison sentence for Thomas H. Velde Jr., 49, convicted in a deadly hit-and-run incident that killed well-known Rutland County dairy farmer Leo Branchaud in 2016. The ruling overturns a previous decision from Judge Mary Miles Teachout, who had granted Velde’s request for post-conviction relief, thereby questioning the habitual offender status that enhanced his sentence.
Velde had pleaded guilty in 2018 to charges of leaving the scene of a crash causing death and gross negligent operation, tied to the April 2016 incident on Gulf Road. Initially, his mother attempted to take responsibility for the crash; however, video evidence confirmed Velde’s involvement. The case gained notable attention, with community members regularly attending court sessions.
Judge Teachout’s November 2023 decision deemed a past trespassing guilty plea from 2009 defective, removing Velde’s habitual offender designation. Following this, Rutland County State’s Attorney Ian Sullivan appealed to the Vermont Supreme Court, which unanimously ruled that Velde had waived his right to challenge his habitual offender status upon pleading guilty.
Justice William Cohen emphasized that Velde’s earlier plea was made knowingly and voluntarily, leading to the reinstatement of Velde’s sentence. Sullivan expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s correction of what he termed a trial court error, reiterating that Velde deserved the lengthy prison term for his actions.
Velde is currently incarcerated at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield and can still pursue a separate claim of ineffective assistance of counsel regarding his hit-and-run case. The court’s decision affirms accountability in a tragic incident that rocked the Rutland County community.
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Photo credit vtdigger.org
