Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos has taken a no contest plea in her long‑running drunk driving case, a legal move that ends nearly two years of court proceedings but continues to stir controversy in the Vermont community.
In Chittenden County Superior Court on Tuesday, Vekos entered the plea to a misdemeanor DUI charge, effectively admitting she will not dispute the allegation without formally admitting guilt under the law.
The charge stems from an incident in January 2024, when Vermont State Police troopers accused Vekos of driving to a homicide investigation in Bridport while impaired.
Body cam footage and police accounts from the original arrest showed troopers detecting signs of intoxication and subsequently taking her into custody.
Under the plea agreement, a judge granted Vekos a six‑month deferred sentence with probation, meaning she will avoid jail time so long as she complies with probation conditions.
If she successfully completes the period without violations, the DUI charge could be expunged from her record next summer.
The decision drew opposition from the Vermont Assistant Attorney General’s Office, which had urged the court not to allow a no contest plea or deferred sentence.
Vekos’s arrest and subsequent handling of the case have prompted wider criticism of her judgment and capacity to serve as the county’s top prosecutor.
State legislators and advocacy groups previously called for her resignation, citing concerns over her conduct and public trust.
Vekos has acknowledged the outcome in court but has not indicated plans to step down.
Her current term as state’s attorney runs through 2026, and it remains unclear whether she will seek reelection amid continued scrutiny.
