A Vermont judge has eased the release conditions for the owner of a onetime gun range and paramilitary-style training facility in West Pawlet, who is charged with assaulting a constable nearly two years ago.
The move Wednesday by Judge Cortland Corsones in Rutland County Superior criminal court came days after Daniel Banyai was in the court on a charge accusing him of violating the same condition of release — that he regularly check in by phone with the Rutland County sheriff. The prosecutor objected to the change in conditions.
The recent court actions are the latest turns in the national-headline-making battles involving Banyai in civil, environmental and criminal courts. Neighbors of his property in West Pawlet, known as Slate Ridge, have said their interactions with him have left them terrified. The cases have also frustrated town officials seeking to enforce zoning violations at the site over the years.
Banyai’s criminal case stems from his arrest in March 2024 when he was accused of assaulting Pawlet Constable Thomas Covino during a traffic stop in Pawlet, according to court records. Banyai has pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
A two-day trial in the case is set to start April 29.
Banyai’s release conditions included three-times-a-week phone check-ins with the sheriff’s department in Rutland County. His attorney, Rebecca Falcone, argued during Wednesday’s hearing for that condition to be struck, contending that her client has not missed prior court hearings.
The release condition, Falcone said, was “unnecessary at this point to ensure that Mr. Banyai will continue coming to court because he’s already demonstrated that he’s going to do that.”
Rutland County State’s Attorney Ian Sullivan opposed the request.
“The recent violation of this court’s order for this condition we don’t believe functions as the reason to lift the condition altogether,” Sullivan told the judge.
Corsones, in agreeing to strike the release condition, said that when it was initially set, Banyai was living in New York state. Now, the judge said, with Banyai residing in Vermont, those check-ins were no longer required. Corsones said Banyai had earlier posted $15,000 bail to secure his release.
“The risk of flight at this point appears to be significantly reduced such that the bail and the remaining conditions are sufficient to prevent flight from prosecution,” the judge said.
