[R]UTLAND — A plea deal has been reached mid-trial in the case of a man charged in a hit-and-run that killed Tinmouth farmer Leo Branchaud in 2016 as he walked in front of his home.
Thomas H. Velde Jr., 42, pleaded guilty Thursday morning in Rutland Superior criminal court to charges of leaving the scene with death resulting and gross negligent operation with death resulting.
Both charges include habitual offender enhancements based on previous felony convictions. Those habitual enhancements carry possible life sentences.
A charge of impeding police was dismissed as part of the plea deal.
Rutland County State’s Attorney Rose Kennedy, who prosecuted the case, said outside the court Thursday that the plea agreement allows her to ask for a sentence of up to life in prison for Velde.
Kennedy added that she believed the state had presented a strong case.
“From the state’s perspective, we feel comfortable that the jury would have convicted on the counts that they would have been able to deliberate on,” the prosecutor said. “His pleas reinforces that.”
Velde’s attorney, William Cobb, can argue for any lesser sentence. Cobb could not immediately be reached Thursday for comment.
Judge Cortland Corsones ordered the state Department of Corrections to conduct a pre-sentence investigation. No sentencing date was immediately set.
The trial began Monday with the prosecution wrapping up its case Wednesday afternoon. The court was closed Tuesday for Town Meeting Day.
The defense was expected to begin presenting its case Thursday when the plea deal was reached.
According to police, Branchaud, a 57-year-old farmer, was struck and killed by a vehicle Velde was driving as he walked in front of his home on Gulf Road in Tinmouth on April 22, 2016.
Velde’s mother, Lisa Velde, who police initially said was the driver in the crash, was also charged, pleading guilty last year to a felony offense of impeding law enforcement. She was later sentenced to one to three years in jail, with all but eight months suspended.
Thomas Velde Jr. is currently being held without bail at the Rutland jail.
The case garnered a great deal of media attention and community interest, with Velde’s lawyer arguing for a change of venue prior to the trial.
Cobb cited the numerous press reports on the case, including coverage of a packed townwide meeting last year in Tinmouth attended by Kennedy and Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan.
At that meeting, Kennedy and Donovan heard residents’ concerns about repeat offenders in the criminal justice system. Velde has eight felonies and more than 30 misdemeanors.
The judge denied the bid to move the case outside Rutland County.
The tight-knit Rutland County town of Tinmouth, population 613, rallied around Branchaud’s widow following the death of her husband.
Community members volunteered to help keep Branchaud’s farm running following his death and signed up in shifts to make sure the cows continued to be milked to maintain their value before they were eventually sold off.
Branchaud’s widow, Tami Carboni-Branchaud, declined comment after the hearing Thursday, except to say she was pleased with the terms of the plea agreement.
Community members have also packed the court whenever hearings were held in the case, including throughout the trial this week. Several said outside the courtroom Thursday they were satisfied with the plea agreement.
“I’m so happy I could cry,” Beth Duquette, a friend of Tami Carboni-Branchaud, said after watching Velde enter guilty pleas to the two felony charges.
