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"THE AG'S OFFICE IN VERMONT IS NOT TAKING THIS CASE. THE U.S.ATTORNEY IS NOT TAKING THIS CASE...ROBERT SAND!

"AND SO...PETITIONS TO HAVE ME REMOVED, IF I'M GONE THERE WILL BE NO ONE TO TAKE THIS CASE...ROBERT SAND!

"THE ONLY OTHER AUTHORITY IN VERMONT THAT WILL PROSECUTE THIS CASE IS THE VERMONT ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THEY'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THEY'RE NOT TOUCHING THIS CASE..."

"THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO STEP IN, THEY'VE MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THEY'RE NOT STEPPING IN..."ROBERT SAND

   "You should also know that Mr. Sand consulted with the Attorney General regarding this case and you can also have a conversation with them if you desire." ROBERT SAND IN AN E-MAIL THROUGH PAM WEIGEL OUR "VICTIM'S ADVOCATE."

  "WE HAVE NEVER SPOKEN WITH ROBERT SAND ABOUT THIS CASE!" ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL CINDY MAGUIRE!

"AT NO TIME DID THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE DISCUSS THIS CASE WITH ROBERT SAND!" ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL CINDY MAGUIRE

"YOU ARE LISTENING TO ROBERT SAND AT A MEETING WITH MY FAMILY IN BOSTON. YOU WILL HEAR HIM THREATEN ME THAT ALL CHARGES WILL BE THROWN OUT IF I SUCCEED IN GETTING HIM OFF THE CASE. YOU WILL ALSO HEAR HIM IMPLICATE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM SORRELL AS BEING PART OF THAT PLOT AND HAVING FULL KNOWLEDGE OF, AND COMPLICITY IN, THIS SHAMEFUL ACT OF BLACKMAIL. SAND EVEN IMPLICATES THE U.S.ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS BEING COMPLICIT IN THE THREATS. THE ENTIRE TAPE OF THE MEETING WITH ROBERT SAND, OVER AN HOUR LONG, WILL BE RELEASED ON MY NEXT PAGE. IN A FACE TO FACE MEETING WITH MY WIFE AND I CINDY MAGUIRE, THE ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL, EMPHATICALLY STATED THEY HAVE NEVER SPOKEN WITH SAND ABOUT THIS CASE AT ALL, AT ANY TIME! IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS THAT I HAVE DECIDED TO SHOW THE TRUTH. NOW, HEAR THE TRUTH FROM ROBERT SAND HIMSELF! THE FOLLOWING STORY IS ABOUT OUR CONTACT WITH CINDY MAGUIRE SINCE THE CONVICTION OF KYLE BOLASKI AND HER EFFORTS TO HIDE THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S INVOLVEMENT. BUT, AS THE TAPE TELLS, YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM THE TRUTH, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE..."

 

                            "SLEEPING WITH THE DEVIL..."

AFTER THE TRIAL AND SWIFT CONVICTION OF KYLE BOLASKI THERE WAS NOW NO DOUBT AS TO THE INVOLVEMENT OF COREY, UCCI, BLANCHARD AND ARBUCKLE. AND THERE WAS EVEN LESS DOUBT AS TO ROBERT SAND'S CORRUPTION. THE EVIDENCE THAT CAME OUT AT TRIAL NOT ONLY PROVES THE MISCONDUCT OF ROBERT SAND, IT SHOWS WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT SAND BROKE THE LAW TO PROTECT MURDERERS AND DRUG DEALERS.  SO MUCH THAT NOW ATTORNEY GENERAL SORRELL COULD NO LONGER SHIELD SAND AND THE OTHERS INVOLVED IN VINNIE’S MURDER. NOT WITHOUT SHOWING HIS OWN INVOLVEMENT. JOHN LAVOIE, A RESPECTED PROSECUTOR BROUGHT OUT MORE INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE AGAINST SAND. JUDGE ZIMMERMAN HERSELF WROTE ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE OTHERS. SHIELDING SAND NOW AND REFUSING PROSECUTION OF THE OTHERS INVOLVED WOULD MEAN SORRELL WOULD HAVE TO GO AGAINST EVERYTHING JOHN LAVOIE AND JUDGE ZIMMERMAN ACCOMPLISHED AND SIDE WITH THE MURDERERS AND DRUG DEALERS. TO DO SO WOULD SHOW THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL SORRELL WAS INVOLVED IN THE COVERUP FROM THE BEGINNING.

IT WOULD ALSO MEAN SORRELL WOULD BE DISCREDITING ONE OF HIS OWN TROOPERS. TROOPER VITALE WHO TESTIFIED THAT JERRY UCCI ADMITTED TO HIM, ON VIDEO, THAT HE SAW KYLE CHASE VINNIE AND SHOOT HIM IN THE BACK! UCCI CALLED TROOPER VITALE A LIAR ON THE STAND. LETTING UCCI GET AWAY WITH THAT WOULD BESMIRCH THE REPUTATION OF THAT FINE OFFICER. WHO WAS DOING HIS JOB AND HELPING TO GET A MURDERER AND DRUG DEALER OFF THE STREETS. ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS JUDGE ZIMMERMAN ADDED 5 YEARS TO BOLASKI’S SENTENCE WAS AS A DETERENCE TO OTHERS. THOUGH WE BELIEVE HE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE WAS DOING. NOW IT WAS TIME TO SEE IF ATTORNEY GENERAL SORRELL WOULD FOLLOW HER EXAMPLE.

THE QUESTION IS WILL THEY DO THAT? WILL THEY CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD, PICK UP WHERE JOHN AND JUDGE ZIMMERMAN LEFT OFF, SECURING THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OR WILL THEY GO BACKWARD AND BETRAY THE PEOPLE, JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS? FOR AS LONG AS ROBERT SAND IS IN OFFICE HE WILL PROTECT THE CRIMINALS. AS LONG AS THE COWARDS WHO KILLED VINNIE REMAIN FREE THE PEOPLE ARE IN JEOPARDY. AS HAS BEEN PROVEN BY THE CRIMES COMMITTED BY THOSE SET FREE. NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, SHOULD COME BEFORE THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE. IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THE STREETS ARE SAFE FOR THEIR OWN PEOPLE AS WELL AS OUT OF TOWNERS, VACATIONERS AND VISITORS TO THEIR STATE. BECAUSE WHAT THEY HAVE SHOWN SO FAR IS THAT VISITORS TO THEIR STATE ARE NOT SAFE! THE MESSAGE THEY HAVE SHOWN IS THAT IT'S OKAY TO KILL PEOPLE FROM OUT STATE. THAT THEY WILL PROTECT THE KILLERS AT ALL COSTS! THEY WILL HIDE EVIDENCE, LIE, FALSIFY EVIDENCE, VIOLATE THEIR OWN LAWS, DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO SECURE THE FREEDOM OF THE KILLERS, BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW!

I HAVE MESSAGES AND E-MAILS FROM HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY WILL NO LONGER VISIT OR VACATION IN VERMONT. HUNDREDS MORE FROM CITIZENS OF VERMONT WHO SAY THEY NO LONGER FEEL SAFE OR HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO PROTECT THEM. SO FAR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS SHOWED NO INTEREST IN RESTORING THAT CONFIDENCE. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE NOW HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THAT, TO GAIN BACK THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE AND OF VISITORS TO THEIR STATE. THIS IS HIS CHANCE TO ERASE THE SHAME THAT ROBERT SAND BROUGHT UPON VERMONT.

DURING THE COURSE OF THE TRIAL I MET MANY DECENT, HONEST EMPLOYEES OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. SUCH AS THE COURT OFFICER’S, THE DEPUTIES, THE MARSHALL’S, TROOPERS AND EVEN THE CLERKS WHO ALL TOOK A LOT OF PRIDE IN THEIR WORK, PEOPLE WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY THAT WERE EMBARRASSED AND ASHAMED OF THE CONDUCT OF ROBERT SAND. THEN THERE WERE THOSE THAT HAD A DIRECT INVOLVEMENT SUCH AS JOHN LAVOIE, KELLY WOODWARD AND GWEN LAVOIE WHO SACRIFICED A LOT OUT OF THEIR LIVES TO FIGHT FOR THE HONOR AND INTEGRITY OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM THAT THEY BELIEVE IN. THERE WERE THE JURORS THAT FACED THE HEARTRENDING TASK OF DECIDING THE FATE OF 2 MEN, ONE DEAD, THE OTHER LIVING, WITH THE EYES OF THE WORLD ON THEIR DECISION. THERE WAS JUDGE ZIMMERMAN WHO HAD THE MONUMENTAL TASK OF OVERSEEING THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL CASE IN VERMONT’S HISTORY WITH HER EVERY WORD, EVERY DECISION WATCHED THROUGH THE EYES OF HER COUNTRYMEN, WHO HOPED TO FINALLY END THE SHAME AND DEGRADATION TO THEIR STATE BESTOWED UPON THEM BY ONE SELFISH MAN. THESE PEOPLE ALL MADE HUGE SACRIFICES TO TRY TO RESTORE THE HONOR AND INTEGRITY TO VERMONT THAT ROBERT SAND DESTROYED. WE FELT THEIR PAIN AS THEY HAVE FELT OURS.

I WANTED TO SPARE THEM ANYMORE SHAME. EVEN THOUGH, AFTER THE TRIAL, NO ONE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE REACHED OUT TO US TO OFFER ANY KIND OF APOLOGY FOR WHAT WE WENT THROUGH I DECIDED TO OFFER UP AN OLIVE BRANCH. I THOUGHT FOR SURE THAT THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO HIDE THE TRUTH, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE TRIAL AND THE EVIDENCE THAT HAD COME OUT. I BELIEVED THAT THEY WOULD NOW WANT TO CLEAR THEMSELVES OF ANY WRONG DOING. THAT THEY WOULD WANT THE TRUTH TO COME OUT IF THEY HAD NO INVOLVEMENT IN THE COVERUP. MY DESIRE NOW WAS TO WORK WITH THEM IN WHAT SHOULD BE A COMMON GOAL, JUSTICE AND THE SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH. WOULD THEY ACCEPT OR WOULD THEY CONTINUE ON THEIR PATH OF DECEIT? WE WOULD SOON FIND OUT...

OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW WEEKS I SPOKE WITH JOHN AT LENGTH ABOUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO. I EXPRESSED TO HIM MY DESIRE TO WORK WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE THOUGH I WAS REALLY APPREHENSIVE ABOUT DOING SO. MY CONCERN WAS, DID THEY HAVE THE SAME DESIRE TO WORK WITH ME? JOHN TOLD ME THAT HE CAN ONLY DO THE ARBUCKLE CASE AND THAT ANOTHER DISTRICT ATTORNEY, DAVID TARTTAR, WOULD BE REPLACING HIM AND TAKING OVER THE APPEAL. HE SAID MR. TARTTAR WAS A VERY GOOD STATE APPELLATE ATTORNEY, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND VERY TOUGH WHO WORKED OUT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

JOHN ALSO TOLD ME HE SPOKE WITH ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL CINDY MAGUIRE, WHO WAS THE CHIEF OF HOMICIDE. I WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH MS. MAGUIRE. EARLY ON IN THE CASE STATE POLICE COMMANDER L’ESPERANCE TOLD ME TO WRITE TO HER AND ASK FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO ROBERT SAND. AT THAT TIME HE SAID HE WOULD HELP ME, THIS WAS BEFORE HE FOUND OUT WHAT JENKINS DID IN THE GRAND JURY. ONCE HE FOUND OUT HE BACKED OUT OF HIS AGREEMENT TO HELP.  MY ATTORNEY HAD WRITTEN MS. MAGUIRE A LETTER ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION. SHE NEVER ANSWERED US. NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED OUR LETTER AT ALL! THIS WAS VERY DISRESPECTFUL. IT’S SOMETHING YOU DON’T EXPECT FROM THE CHIEF OF HOMICIDE AND ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THE FAMILY OF A MURDER VICTIM! BUT IT WAS A SIGN OF WHAT WAS TO COME FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AND OF THE PEOPLE WE WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH FOR JUSTICE.

I HAD A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS. EVERYTHING WAS BEING PUT BACK INTO THE SAME HANDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE COVERUP AND PROTECTION OF VINNIE’S KILLER’S AT THE BEGINNING. THIS ENTIRE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR LIKE JOHN WAS. I TOLD JOHN ABOUT THE LETTER AND OF MS. MAGUIRE’S DISRESPECT TO US. BEING THE FAMILY OF A MURDER VICTIM IN THEIR STATE SHE COULD AT LEAST HAVE AFFORDED US THE COURTESY OF A REPLY. I TOOK HER SLIGHT AS AN INSULT TO MY FAMILY AND TO VINNIE. I KNEW SHE WAS AWARE OF WHAT SAND WAS UP TO, THERE WAS NO WAY SHE DIDN'T AND HER RELUCTANCE TO TALK TO US ONLY REINFORCED WHAT I BELIEVED. I TOLD JOHN OF MY DISTRUST OF HER. JOHN SAID HE HAD SPOKEN PERSONALLY TO HER AND ASSURED ME THAT THINGS WERE NOT THE SAME. THAT SHE WAS THE CHIEF OF HOMICIDE AND THAT HER INTEREST WAS IN SEEING JUSTICE THROUGH. HE SAID HE SPOKE TO HER ABOUT US AND THAT SHE WAS WELL AWARE OF THE CASE. HE TOLD ME TO CONTACT HER AND TO PUT OUR TRUST IN HER.

MAYBE JOHN WAS RIGHT. AFTER ALL, WHEN I FIRST MET JOHN I DIDN'T TRUST HIM AT ALL EITHER BUT IN THE END HE PROVED HIMSELF TO BE AN HONEST, DEDICATED PROSECUTOR WHO BECAME A FRIEND. I RESPECTED JOHN AND HIS OPINION. I DECIDED I WOULD REACH OUT TO ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL MAGUIRE. I WAS GOING TO BE IN VERMONT TO SPEAK WITH THE PROBATION OFFICE CONCERNING KYLE BOLASKI. ON 10/16/11 I E-MAILED MS. MAGUIRE AND DAVID TARTTAR AND ASKED IF THEY COULD MEET WITH US WHILE WE WERE DOWN THERE. I RECEIVED A REPLY FROM DAVID THAT HE WOULD MEET WITH US BUT OUR INVITATION WAS DECLINED BY MS. MAGUIRE BUT SHE SAID SHE WOULD BE SPEAKING WITH DAVID ABOUT OUR MEETING.

MY WIFE AND I MET WITH DAVID AND AMY FAR, OUR NEW VICTIM’S ADVOCATE, IN THE SAME MEETING ROOM AT THE WINDSOR COUNTY COURTHOUSE WHICH WE SPENT THE ENTIRE TRIAL MEETING WITH JOHN. DAVID WAS A QUIET PERSON, IN SHARP CONTRAST TO JOHN. I COULD SEE THAT HE WAS APPREHENSIVE AT FIRST, AS WAS I. THE FIRST SEVERAL MINUTES WAS JUST SOME LIGHT TALK TO KIND OF FEEL EACH OTHER OUT BUT THE MORE WE SPOKE THE MORE RELAXED WE EACH BECAME. HE TOLD US THAT HE WORKED THROUGH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE AND HAD DIRECT CONTACT WITH ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL CINDY MAGUIRE. WE TALKED AT LENGTH ABOUT THE APPEAL PROCESS. HE WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND PUT MY MIND AT EASE AS TO WHAT HIS INTENTIONS WERE CONCERNING THE APPEAL.

WE THEN SPOKE ABOUT CHARGES CONCERNING THE OTHER MEN. HE TOLD US THAT BY THE TIME HE FINISHED GOING OVER EVERYTHING FOR THE APPEAL HE WOULD KNOW THIS CASE INSIDE OUT. HE PROMISED US THAT HE WOULD GO OVER ALL OF THE EVIDENCE AND WOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER CHARGES BASED ON THE EVIDENCE. THAT’S ALL WE’VE EVER ASKED FOR. WE FELT THAT HE WAS SINCERE. THAT HE WAS GENUINELY SERIOUS ABOUT SEEKING JUSTICE. THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING, EVEN MORE SO NOW, SO WE TOOK HIM AT HIS WORD. WE SHOOK HANDS AND LEFT FEELING CONFIDENT THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE WAS TRULY, FINALLY SINCERE IN WORKING WITH US FOR THE JUSTICE THAT IS STILL LONG OVERDUE.

WERE WE RIGHT TO TRUST THEM? DID THEY REALLY MEAN WHAT THEY SAID OR WAS THIS JUST ANOTHER DELAY TACTIC? WE NEVER EXPECTED WHAT WAS TO COME NEXT...cont’d)

AFTER THE MEETING WITH DAVID I E-MAILED CINDY MAGUIRE AND ASKED IF SHE COULD MEET WITH US. I TOLD HER THAT WE WOULD TRAVEL TO HER OFFICE AT HER CONVENIENCE. TWO WEEKS WENT BY AND I NEVER RECEIVED A REPLY. I E-MAILED HER SEVERAL MORE TIMES FROM NOVEMBER UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER I WAS NEVER EXTENDED THE COURTESY OF A REPLY. I COULD UNDERSTAND IF SHE WAS BUSY AND NOT ABLE TO MEET WITH US BUT I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND MS. MAGUIRE'S DISRESPECT BY NOT EVEN ANSWERING US ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. CHRISTMAS WAS COMING SO I DIDN'T TRY TO CONTACT HER. ON DECEMBER 30TH I AGAIN E-MAILED HER AND ASKED HER IF SHE COULD REPLY WITH A DATE AND TIME THAT WOULD BE CONVENIENT FOR HER, AGAIN STATING WE WOULD TRAVEL TO HER. I ASKED IF SHE COULD GIVE ME A REPLY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

ANOTHER WEEK WENT BY AND WE STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED A REPLY. WE WERE GOING TO BE UP THERE FOR BOLASKI'S SENTENCING ON JANUARY 13TH SO ON JANUARY 8TH I EMAILED MS. MAGUIRE AND ASKED IF SHE AND DAVID WILL MEET WITH US AFTER THE SENTENCING. THE NEXT DAY SHE FINALLY REPLIED TO ME. UNFORTUNATELY SHE ONCE AGAIN REFUSED TO MEET WITH US. IT WAS OBVIOUS SHE WAS DELIBERATELY AVOIDING US. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE DISRESPECT BEING SHOWN TO US BY CINDY MAGUIRE. THIS WAS VERY UPSETTING. IT WAS OBVIOUS SHE WAS PLAYING THE "IGNORE US AND WE'LL GO AWAY" GAME. ROBERT SAND TRIED THIS GAME AS DID ATTORNEY GENERAL SORRELL AND JENKINS. THEY SHOULD KNOW BY NOW THIS WON'T WORK! THAT WE WILL NOT GO AWAY! THE BIG QUESTION IS...WHY?? WHY ARE THEY AVOIDING US? WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE? WHAT HOLD DO THESE DRUG DEALERS, THESE MURDERERS HAVE OVER THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IF CINDY MAGUIRE, THE CHIEF OF HOMICIDE AND ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL IS WILLING TO SHIELD THEM??
ON JANUARY 9TH I E-MAILED HER AND ONCE AGAIN ASKED TO MEET WITH HER. SEVERAL MORE WEEKS PASSED WITHOUT A REPLY. I E-MAILED HER AGAIN ON JANUARY 30TH. SHE FINALLY REPLIED ON THE NEXT DAY. SHE WANTED TO KNOW THE SPECIFICS AS TO WHAT I WANTED TO SPEAK WITH HER ABOUT SO SHE COULD PROPERLY PREPARE. THIS WAS BECOMING VERY FRUSTRATING. SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO SPEAK TO HER ABOUT. SO AS TO AVOID ANY MORE EXCUSES I TOLD HER EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS.
ANOTHER WEEK WENT BY WITH NO REPLY. I SENT HER ANOTHER E-MAIL. TWO WEEKS WENT BY, NO REPLY, ANOTHER E-MAIL SENT, THREE WEEKS AND NO REPLY.  I SENT HER ANOTHER MESSAGE TO LET ME KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. FEBRUARY 22ND SHE FINALLY ANSWERED ME. RATHER THAN MEET WITH US FACE TO FACE SHE WANTED ME TO CALL HER AND TALK ON A CONFERENCE CALL! I QUICKLY REPLIED AND SAID THIS WAS NOT APPROPRIATE, THAT THE ISSUES REQUIRED A FACE TO FACE MEETING. I EXPLAINED THAT I WANTED TO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP OF MUTUAL TRUST BETWEEN MY FAMILY AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, SO WE COULD WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL AND THIS COULD NOT HAPPEN IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION.
ANOTHER WEEK WENT BY WITHOUT A REPLY. SO I AGAIN E-MAILED HER AND ASKED TO MEET WITH HER. ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER E-MAIL. SHE COULDN’T AVOID THE ISSUE. SHE FINALLY REPLIED ON MARCH 5TH THAT SHE COULD MEET WITH US ON MARCH 19TH! WE READILY ACCEPTED. FINALLY, AFTER OVER 5 MONTHS OF DELAY TACTICS, WE WOULD SEE EXACTLY HOW SINCERE THEY WERE. YOU CAN TELL A LOT BY A PERSON FACE TO FACE THAT YOU CAN’T OVER THE PHONE. WE WOULD NOW BE ABLE TO SEE IF THEY WERE WILLING TO CONTINUE ON A NEW PATH OF RESPECT AND TRUST, WILLING TO WORK WITH US OR CONTINUE ON THE SAME PATH OF DECEIT AND FALSEHOOD THAT HAS BECOME SO PREVALENT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE. 
THEY SEEMED TO WANT TO DO WHAT THEIR OFFICE IS SUPPOSED TO DO, FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND END THE SHAME THAT ROBERT HAS BESTOWED UPON THEIR STATE AND OFFICE, TO BRING JUSTICE TO A YOUNG MAN BRUTALLY MURDERED ON THEIR SOIL AND DENIED THE RIGHT TO FINALLY REST IN PEACE. THAT’S WHAT IT SEEMED. WE WOULD SOON FIND OUT THINGS AREN’T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM…

AS THEY SAT ACROSS FROM US AT THE TABLE THERE WAS A MOMENT OF SILENCE AS WE JUST SORT OF LOOKED AT ONE ANOTHER. I WAS WAITING FOR HER TO BEGIN THE MEETING BY TELLING US WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS CONCERNING THE APPEAL, ROBERT SAND AND THE OTHER MEN INVOLVED IN VINNIE’S MURDER. I EXPECTED HER TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE MEETING BUT SHE DIDN’T. SO I BEGAN BY TELLING HER THAT WE CALLED THIS MEETING WITH HER BECAUSE WE WANTED TO STOP FIGHTING WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE. WE WANTED TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP OF MUTUAL TRUST AND RESPECT, SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE ASKING FOR BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. WE EXPLAINED THAT WE WANT TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO GRIEVE OUR SON AND CARRY ON WITH OUR LIVES KNOWING THAT THE VERMONT JUDICIAL SYSTEM WILL FIGHT FOR VINNIE TO MAKE SURE HE GETS THE JUSTICE HE DESERVES AND STOP OUR PAIN AND ANGUISH THAT WE HAVE HAD TO ENDURE FOR SO LONG.

WE DESERVED AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY ROBERT SAND DID WHAT HE DID! WHY WERE WE FORCED TO FIGHT FOR VINNIE? WHY WERE WE PUT THROUGH SUCH PAIN AND MISERY AND WHY ARE THESE MEN STILL BEING PROTECTED? WE DESERVED SOME ANSWERS. WE ONLY WANTED THEM TO DO WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING FROM BEGINNING AND TO MAKE SURE THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN TO ANYONE EVER AGAIN.
ALL THE WHILE MS. MAGUIRE WAS NODDING AND AGREEING WITH ME. NEVER AT ANY TIME DID SHE EXPRESS REGRET FOR WHAT WE HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH. THERE WAS NO APOLOGY FOR OUR TREATMENT AND WHAT WE HAVE HAD TO ENDURE BECAUSE OF ROBERT SAND, FOR THE PAIN AND ANGUISH OUR FAMILY HAS GONE THROUGH. NEVER WAS THERE ANY ASSURANCE THAT SHE WOULD GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS AND MAKE SURE THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN TO ANYONE. SHE DID SAY THAT THEY WOULD WORK WITH US BUT THERE WAS NO SINCERITY IN HER VOICE. SHE NEVER ELABORATED ON ANYTHING I SAID, NEVER TRIED TO ASSURE US OF THEIR SINCERITY.
SHE ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW, WHAT MY QUESTIONS WERE! I WAS TAKEN ABACK BY THIS. SHE HAD ASKED ME THIS IN THE E-MAIL SO SHE COULD HAVE THE ANSWERS FOR US. WE WERE THE VICTIMS AND THEY WERE THE INVESTIGATING AUTHORITIES. THIS ISN’T THE WAY THESE THINGS ARE HANDLED. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TELLING US WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING TO ADDRESS THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES. INSTEAD SHE ASKED US WHAT QUESTIONS WE HAD? SO I ASKED ABOUT THE APPEAL THINKING THIS MIGHT OPEN THEM UP AND THEY COULD CONTINUE ON. DAVID ONCE AGAIN EXPLAINED THE APPEAL PROCESS, TIME INVOLVED, ETC. BASICALLY THE SAME THINGS HE EXPLAINED TO US AT OUR MEETING WITH HIM. AFTER HE WAS DONE THEY ONCE AGAIN JUST SAT THERE LOOKING AT US.
 MS. MAGUIRE THEN ASKED WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS WE HAD. SO I BROUGHT UP ROBERT SAND. SHE ASKED WHAT I WANTED KNOW ABOUT HIM! I LOOKED AT RONNIE. WE KNEW WHERE THIS WAS GOING. I ASKED IF SHE HAD SPOKEN WITH HIM ABOUT HIS ACTIONS. SHE SAID SHE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH HIM. I ASKED HER IF THEY HAD AT ANY TIME SPOKEN WITH SAND ABOUT THIS CASE OR WHAT HE HAD DONE. SHE SAID THEY HAD NEVER SPOKEN TO HIM! SHE DIDN’T ELABORATE AT ALL. I COULD TELL WHAT SHE WAS DOING. I THROW OUT A QUESTION AND SHE ANSWERS, VAGUELY! I FELT LIKE THE INTERROGATOR AND MS. MAGUIRE THE DEFENDANT. THIS ISN’T WHAT I WAS HOPING THIS MEETING WOULD BE. 
 I ASKED HER POINT BLANK IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE HAD SPOKEN AT ALL TO ROBERT SAND ABOUT THIS CASE AT ANY TIME. SHE SAID THEY NEVER SPOKE TO HIM. I ASKED HER IF SHE HAD SPOKEN TO SAND AFTER SHE ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED TO MEET WITH HER ABOUT SO SHE COULD PREPARE. SHE SAID SHE HADN'T! I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS HEARING! I HAVE SAND ON TAPE AND IN E-MAILS TELLING ME HE DID DISCUSS THE CASE WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL SORRELL, SEVERAL TIMES. WE WERE STUNNED! HERE WAS THE VERMONT ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, SUPPOSEDLY A PILLAR OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY AND SHE WAS LYING TO US! I ASKED HER WHY THEY HADN'T SPOKEN TO HIM ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT CAME OUT AT THE TRIAL THAT SHOWED WHAT SAND HAD DONE. SHE TOLD ME IT WASN'T THEIR JOB! THAT IT WASN'T THEIR RESPONSIBILITY! BY NOW I WAS VERY UPSET AT HER. FOR HER TO LIE TO US RIGHT TO OUR FACE WAS A HORRIBLE ACT OF DISRESPECT! INSTEAD OF WORKING TO BUILD TRUST SHE WAS BEING EVASIVE AND DECEITFUL! 
I ASKED HER IF THEY WERE AT ALL CONCERNED THAT THEY HAD A DISHONEST AND CORRUPT DISTRICT ATTORNEY THAT IS ABUSING THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO ALLOW MURDERERS TO WALK THE STREETS AND ALLOW ADMITTED DRUG DEALERS TO CONTINUE TO PREY ON CHILDREN. SHE JUST LOOKED AT ME AND DIDN'T ANSWER. I REPEATED MY QUESTION BUT SHE DIDN’T ANSWER ME. I ASKED HER IF SHE HAD ANY INTENTION OF SPEAKING WITH SAND. SHE SAID NO. THAT SHE WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK TO SAND. SHE SPOKE WITH ARROGANCE! HER BEHAVIOR WAS UNCONSCIONABLE! SHE MADE US TRAVEL ALL THE WAY UP THERE ALL THE TIME KNOWING SHE HAD NO INTENTION OF TELLING US ANYTHING! THEN BETRAYED US, THREW IT IN OUR FACE, HUMILIATED US THE WAY ATTORNEY GENERAL SORRELL DID! HE, TOO, MADE US TRAVEL ALL THE WAY UP THERE, SPEND A NIGHT IN A HOTEL THEN KICKED US OUT OF HIS OFFICE! THEN, TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, HE THANKED US FOR COMING!! WE WERE MADE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE INTENT ON GETTING TO THE TRUTH AND HOLD THOSE RESPONSIBLE, ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
RONNIE AND I LOOKED AT EACH OTHER IN DISBELIEF! WE NEVER EXPECTED THIS FROM THE ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL! NEVER EXPECTED THIS BETRAYAL! I LOOKED OVER AT DAVID TARTTAR. HE PUT HIS HEAD DOWN. I COULD SEE THAT HE WAS ASHAMED! I LOOKED AT AMY, SHE LOOKED AWAY. THEY COULDN'T LOOK US IN THE EYE. I COULDN'T SAY THE SAME FOR MAGUIRE. THE CONDUCT OF ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL MAGUIRE WAS SHAMEFUL! A DISGRACE TO HER OFFICE AND TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE VERMONT JUDICIAL SYSTEM. WHAT GOT ME THE MOST WAS HER COLDNESS, HER COMPLETE LACK OF EMOTION AND DISREGARD FOR THE TRUTH. WHAT MANNER OF PEOPLE WERE WE DEALING WITH? I HAVE NEVER KNOWN SUCH COLD, RUTHLESS PEOPLE! THESE ARE TRUSTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS, OF THE HIGHEST ORDER OF GOVERNMENT, BETRAYING THEIR OATH, THEIR OFFICE, THE PEOPLE OF VERMONT AND OUR SON AND FAMILY, WITHOUT ANY CONSCIENCE OR GUILT! WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF REMORSE!
WE SAT THERE SPEECHLESS JUST LOOKING AT HER WITH DISBELIEF. WE WAITED FOR HER TO TELL TO US ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS DOING ABOUT THE OTHER MEN INVOLVED IN VINNIE'S MURDER. THIS WAS ALSO IN MY E-MAIL TO HER OF WHAT WE WANTED TO DISCUSS AND THAT SHE SAID SHE WOULD HAVE THE ANSWERS TO. THERE WERE A FEW MOMENTS OF AWKWARD SILENCE. THEN, NONCHALANTLY, SHE ASKED US IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT! I COULDN'T BELIEVE HER ARROGANCE. BY THIS TIME I WAS VERY UPSET AND WAS NOT IN THE MOOD TO PLAY THIS GAME OF HERS ANY LONGER SO I ASKED HER POINT BLANK: JOHN LAVOIE BROUGHT OUT A LOT OF VERY DAMNING EVIDENCE AGAINST THE MEN INVOLVED IN VINNIE'S MURDER. BETWEEN THIS AND THE EVIDENCE THAT SHE ALREADY HAD WHAT WAS SHE PLANNING ON DOING ABOUT IT? I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE SHE COULD SAY THAT WOULD SHOCK ME. I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG...

 [endif]---->IT WAS LATE MAY OF 2011 WHEN JOHN TOLD ME HE TALKED TO CINDY MAGUIRE ABOUT THE CASE. IT'S BEEN OVER 7 MONTHS SINCE I FIRST CONTACTED HER. SO CINDY MAGUIRE, CHIEF OF THE HOMICIDE AND VERMONT ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS HAD THIS NOW FOR OVER A YEAR. A HIGH PROFILE MURDER CASE THAT HAS BROUGHT NATIONAL ATTENTION ON TO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM OF VERMONT. WE WERE SURE THAT SHE WANTED TO FINALLY BRING THIS CASE TO A CLOSE AND RESTORE THE INTEGRITY TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT ROBERT SAND DESTROYED. TO ERASE THE SHAME THAT WAS BROUGHT UPON THEM. WE EXPECTED HER TO TELL US THAT THEY WERE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING THE CASE. THAT THEY WERE STILL GOING OVER THE EVIDENCE.

TO OUR SHOCK AND DISBELIEF SHE SAID THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING AT ALL! FOR OVER A YEAR SHE NEVER EVEN LOOKED AT THIS CASE! RONNIE AND I WERE ABSOLUTELY STUNNED, APPALLED AT HER AUDACITY! WE ASKED HER WHY. WHY HADN'T SHE DONE ANYTHING AT ALL AFTER ALL THIS TIME? HER REPLY WAS SHE WANTED TO CONCENTRATE ON THE APPEAL!! THAT AFTER THE APPEAL THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE CASE. THIS DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE! NO SENSE AT ALL! THE APPEAL COULD LAST UP TO A YEAR! I ASKED HER WHY? WHAT HER REASONING WAS OF WHY SHE WAS CONCENTRATING ON A PERSON WHO WAS ALREADY IN JAIL AND NO LONGER A THREAT TO SOCIETY AND LEAVING MURDERERS ON THE STREET JEOPARDIZING THE PUBLIC? ALLOWING DRUG DEALERS TO CONTINUE TO SELL DRUGS TO THEIR CHILDREN? WHERE WAS HER REASONING IN THIS? DAVID TARTTAR IS THE APPELLATE ATTORNEY THAT HANDLES THE APPEALS. WHY WASN'T SHE GIVING THIS TO ANOTHER PROSECUTOR TO INVESTIGATE?

SHE HAD NO ANSWERS! SHE JUST SAID THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO. I STARED AT HER, LOOKED IN HER EYES WAITING FOR A BETTER EXPLANATION WHICH NEVER CAME. HER EYES WERE COLD, HER DEMEANOR ONE OF ARROGANCE.. THERE WAS SOMETHING FAR MORE SINISTER GOING ON. WHY WAS SHE PROTECTING THESE MEN? WHY WAIT UNTIL THE APPEAL WAS OVER? AT THAT MOMENT A FEELING OF DREAD CAME OVER ME! THIS WAS ANOTHER DELAY TACTIC. THE SAME TACTICS ROBERT SAND USED WHEN HE WAS HELPING VINNIE'S KILLERS AVOID JUSTICE. NOW CINDY MAGUIRE WAS DOING THE SAME! RONNIE LOOKED AT ME AND I SAW THAT LOOK OF DESPAIR ON HER FACE, A LOOK OF INCREDULOUSNESS! I COULD SENSE SHE WAS THINKING THE SAME THING I WAS. WAS THERE A FIX IN, LIKE THERE WAS IN THE GRAND JURY, TO HAVE THE APPEAL OVERTURNED AND FREE BOLASKI? WHAT IS IT ABOUT THESE MEN THAT NOW HAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE PROTECTING THEM? WHAT DIRE SECRETS ARE THEY HIDING? WHY HAVE THEY SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN TAXPAYERS MONEY TO PROTECT A CONVICTED MURDERER, HIS ACCOMPLICES AND KNOWN DRUG DEALERS? WHY ARE THEY CONTINUING, TO THIS DAY, TO MISAPPROPRIATE TAXPAYERS FUNDS TO HIDE WHAT MISDEEDS THEY HAVE DONE?

THIS WAS ASTONISHING! JOHN LAVOIE WORKED SO HARD ON THIS CASE. PUTTING IN MANY LONG, HARD HOURS OF PERSONAL SACRIFICE AND COMMITMENT TO CONVICT BOLASKI. HIS EFFORTS YIELDED ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO BRING TO JUSTICE ALL OF THE MEN INVOLVED IN VINNIE'S MURDER. JUDGE ZIMMERMAN MADE IT CLEAR IN HER STATEMENTS THAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWED THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE OTHER MEN AND THEIR EFFORTS TO HIDE THE TRUTH. JUDGE ZIMMERMAN MADE IT CLEAR IN HER ACTIONS AND HER WORDS THAT SHE WANTED THIS TO SERVE AS A DETERRENT. THAT MURDER WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN VERMONT AND THOSE THAT VIOLATED THE LAW WILL BE PUNISHED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT HER EFFORTS WOULD BE VIOLATED BY THE VERY PEOPLE IN THE HIGHEST JUDICIAL  AUTHORITY THAT SHE COUNTED ON TO UPHOLD HER COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE!

I ASKED HER IF SHE WASN'T AT ALL CONCERNED BY NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT SHE WOULD BE GOING AGAINST JOHN LAVOIE AND JUDGE ZIMMERMAN AND EVERYTHING THEY ACCOMPLISHED? JERRY UCCI CALLED TROOPER VITALE A LIAR IN COURT, DIDN'T SHE CARE THAT BY LETTING UCCI GET AWAY WITH THAT SHE WOULD BE TARNISHING THE REPUTATION OF ONE OF HER OWN TROOPERS? SHE DIDN'T ANSWER! SHE JUST LOOKED AT ME! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT! I WAS ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHED! SHE FELT NO SHAME, NO GUILT! DAVID TARTTAR JUST SAT THERE IN SILENCE. I COULD SEE HE FELT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. SHE MUST HAVE HAD A TWINGE OF CONSCIENCE BECAUSE SHE THEN TOLD US THAT WHEN THE DEFENSE FILES HIS BRIEF FOR THE APPEAL, IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THEN THEY'LL GO OVER THE EVIDENCE BUT IN THE SAME BREATH SAID SHE'S NOT PROMISING THAT SHE WILL FILE CHARGES. I TOLD HER THAT'S ALL WE WANT. IS THAT SHE ACTS ON THE EVIDENCE. THAT'S ALL WE'VE EVER ASKED BECAUSE THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH EVIDENCE FOR MULTIPLE CHARGES AGAINST THEM. AS MY ATTORNEY'S SAID...THIS CASE IS A PROSECUTOR'S DREAM! BUT IT WAS BECOMING OUR NIGHTMARE.

I LOOKED OVER AT HER. THERE WAS NOTHING MORE TO SAY. THIS MEETING WAS A FARCE, AN EMBARRASSMENT! CINDY MAGUIRE HAD TRIVIALIZED VINNIE'S DEATH. MADE A MOCKERY OF OUR PAIN AND ANGUISH. SHE HAD SHOWN US THE ULTIMATE DISRESPECT WHEN WE CAME TO HER IN GOOD FAITH! SHE DELIBERATELY MADE US TRAVEL ALL THE WAY UP THERE WHEN SHE KNEW ALL ALONG SHE WAS NOT GIVING US ANY ANSWERS! WHY? WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT TO US? WHY WOULD SHE TREAT US WORSE THAN SHE'S TREATING THE MEN THAT MURDERED OUR SON? WHEN I SAW THE PAIN ON RONNIE'S FACE I WAS ABSOLUTELY ENRAGED! THIS WAS DESPICABLE BEHAVIOR! THE PROTECTORS OF THE PEOPLE HAVE NOW BECOME THE PROTECTORS OF THE PERPETRATORS!

IT WAS LEFT AT THAT, NO ANSWERS. SO WE GOT UP TO LEAVE. AS WE WERE WALKING TO THE DOOR I TURNED TO HER AND SAID THAT ROBERT SAND HAD IMPLICATED ATTORNEY GENERAL SORRELL. I CAUGHT HER OFF GUARD BECAUSE SHE BLURTED OUT THAT THEY HAD SPOKEN WITH SAND! I LOOKED AT RONNIE, BOTH OF US AMAZED AT WHAT CINDY MAGUIRE HAD JUST SAID. IN THAT ONE SENTENCE SHE JUST CONFIRMED THAT SHE HAD BEEN LYING TO US. IN THAT ONE SENTENCE SHE CONFIRMED WHAT WE HAD KNOWN ALL ALONG... THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE:

*KNEW ALL ALONG WHAT SAND WAS DOING AND HAD ACTUALLY DISCUSSED THE CASE IN DEPTH AND IN ADVANCE OF THE GRAND JURY, AS CONFIRMED BY ROBERT SAND AND NOW BY CINDY MAGUIRE!

*ALLOWED SAND TO RELEASE VINNIE’S MURDERERS, CONFIRMED DRUG DEALERS, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF THE EVIDENCE THAT THEY COMMITTED MURDER!

*WASTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN TAXPAYERS MONEY TO ABUSE THE COURT SYSTEM AND THE GRAND JURY SYSTEM TO FABRICATE A CASE AND FACILITATE THE RELEASE OF VINNIE’S KILLERS!

 *CONSPIRED WITH ROBERT SAND IN A COVERUP!

*LIED TO US, AND TO THEIR OWN PEOPLE, TO PROTECT MURDERERS AND DRUG DEALERS!

 *ARE PLAYING AN ACTIVE ROLE TO CONTINUE TO COVERUP THE MISCONDUCT OF ROBERT SANDAND THEIR OWN INVOLVEMENT!

*ARE ALLOWING THE OTHERS INVOLVED IN VINNIE’S MURDER TO REMAIN FREE AND CONTINUE TO DEAL DRUGS TO THE CHILDREN OF VERMONT!

I STARED AT HER AND SHE JUST STARED BACK, FULLY REALIZING WHAT SHE HAD JUST SAID. "THIS IS WHY I ASKED TO MEET FACE TO FACE", I SAID TO HER. "YOU CAN TELL A  LOT ABOUT A PERSON!"   

                                                                                                                                                                                                           DAVID TARTTAR WENT TO WALK OUT WITH US BUT MS. MAGUIRE PUT OUT HER ARM AND HELD HIM BACK. NO DOUBT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAD JUST TRANSPIRED. AMY WALKED US OUT TO THE ELEVATORS AND WE WALKED OUT OF THE BUILDING.

"A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THE MEETING I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM CINDY MAGUIRE. IN IT SHE STATED THAT SHE WAS BREAKING OFF ALL CONTACT WITH US!"

THE TRIP WASN'T A TOTAL LOSS AFTER ALL. MS. MAGUIRE MAY HAVE MADE FOOLS OUT OF US DURING THE MEETING BUT THE ROLES WERE REVERSED AT THE END. SHE HAD MADE A HUGE GAFF... IN THAT ONE SENTENCE, THAT ONE BRIEF MOMENT WHEN HER DEFENSES WERE DOWN, SHE ADMITTED THAT SHE HAD BEEN LYING TO US. THAT THEY WERE AND STILL ARE, INVOLVED IN A COVERUP! THAT THEY ARE, INDEED..."SLEEPING WITH THE DEVIL!"