State v. Plant

Defendant Lester Plant appeals a judgment of the district court denying his release on bail under 13 V.S.A. § 7553a. He was afforded a new evidentiary hearing under 13 V.S.A. § 7556(d) and VR.A.P 9(b). I conclude by cleai’ and convincing evidence that bail was properly withheld under § 7553a, as well as under 13 V.S.A. § 7575.

The record evidence reveals that defendant engaged in a rapidly escalating campaign of harassment, intimidation and physical assault against Cynthia Hull-Plant, his estranged wife, in direct contravention of court orders. In mid-August of 1996, Ms. Hull-Plant filed a…