State v. Dennis McLaughlin

Summary

The Vermont Supreme Court affirmed a trial court order imposing $5000 cash bail or surety after finding the defendant posed a risk of flight, where within roughly three days he was twice charged with violating conditions of release and asked his estranged wife not to report one violation. The court held the trial court did not abuse its discretion because the bail statute permits reliance on a defendant's pattern of noncompliance with court orders—not merely on failures to appear—in assessing flight risk, and allows bail at a level a defendant may be unable to post when it is the least restrictive means of assuring appearance. No separate opinions were filed.