Addison prosecutor charged with drunk driving, revokes license | News | Seven Days

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• Derek Brouwer ©️ Seven days
• Addison County District Attorney Eva Vekos

The top — and soon only — prosecutor in Addison County agreed to suspend her driver’s license after she was arrested for drunken driving in January.

Addison County District Attorney Eva Vekos has been suspended from driving for six months after refusing to submit to a breath test by Vermont State Police in January. She is accused of driving to the scene of a murder investigation while intoxicated.

Vekos initially challenged the civil suspension of her driver’s license – a matter unrelated to the criminal case – but withdrew her challenge late last month ahead of a hearing scheduled for Tuesday. By agreeing to the suspension of her license, Vekos said in an emailed statement, she was not admitting guilt. Rather, she wanted to show that “it is always better to cooperate with law enforcement.”

“We as Vermonters have the right to refuse to give evidence, but there are sanctions associated with refusing to give evidence,” Vekos wrote.

When drivers use public roads in Vermont, they are presumed to have given police consent to a breathalyzer test, in accordance with state law. Refusal to submit to the test is grounds for driver’s license revocation. The test can also be used as evidence in a criminal case.

For the first offense, suspended drivers can apply for the use of an ignition interlock device after 30 days. They can drive, but must provide a non-alcoholic breath sample before starting the vehicle.

Vekos did not disclose whether she intends to use an ignition interlock, but stressed that the suspension will not affect her ability to act as a prosecutor “in any way.”

“I fully intend to continue to serve as successfully and productively as I have over the past year and a half,” she wrote.

Whichever route she takes to get to the Middlebury Courthouse, Vekos will be met with a flood of work.

Starting next week, Vekos will be the only prosecutor in her office. Assistant State Attorney Mike Novelli resigned on June 15 to take a job with the Vermont Attorney General’s office, which is prosecuting Vekos in the criminal case. A second, part-time assistant state attorney, Anthony Bambrick, has submitted his resignation, effective July 8, the Department of State Attorneys and Sheriffs said.

A replacement for Novelli is expected to take office in September, but until then Vekos will be alone.

Vekos said the vacancies would not affect her ability to prosecute: “I have every intention of keeping my office fully functional and productive, even as we struggle with staff shortages,” she said.

Attorneys from other counties or offices may provide assistance in Addison County in the coming months, said Annie Noonan, director of labor relations and operations for the department’s district attorneys and sheriffs’ offices.

Vekos said she “steadfastly” maintains her innocence on the drink-driving charges and intends to take the case to trial.

At a hearing Tuesday in Burlington, where the case is being tried, Assistant Attorney General Rose Kennedy said she expected the trial to last two days. The parties said the case should be ready for trial later this year.