Vermont

Grand Isle County’s top prosecutor cited for DUI – VTDigger

Published

3 weeks ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Grand Isle County’s top prosecutor cited for DUI – VTDigger

Doug DiSabito, the Grand Isle state’s attorney, speaking to reporters. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDigger

Updated at 5:34 p.m.

Grand Isle County’s top prosecutor Douglas DiSabito was cited Tuesday for drunken driving after he was allegedly intoxicated in a St. Albans courthouse, according to the St. Albans Police Department.

Police received a call around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday alerting officers to respond to Franklin County Superior Court in St. Albans “for a report of a person in the building who may be under the influence of alcohol,” according to a department press release.

Officers then made contact with Grand Isle County State’s Attorney DiSabito and after “subsequent investigation” arrested him for driving under the influence of alcohol, the release said.

DiSabito is set to appear in court on May 4, according to the release.

The 57-year-old from Alburgh was first elected to lead the prosecutor’s office in 2014 and has won re-election without facing challengers in every election since then, according to the Vermont Secretary of State’s website. DiSabito has said he is running again for re-election in November. Earlier this week he said he would seek both Democratic and Republican nominations, according to WCAX.

DiSabito recently said he wanted the state to pass stricter bail laws, and he thinks the judiciary isn’t doing enough to combat what he sees as a lack of respect for judicial proceedings, according to the Bennington Banner.

“It’s unfortunate for Grand Isle and for law enforcement,” said Gov. Phil Scott at his weekly press conference Wednesday.

DiSabito did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Tim Lueders-Dumont, executive director of the Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs, said his department is standing ready to support the county, though he was not yet sure if anyone would take over some of DiSabito’s cases.

“He’s still state’s attorney, he still has his law license,” Lueders-Dumont said.

Lueders-Dumont said he didn’t know which prosecutor would bring the drunken driving case against DiSabito. He declined to comment on the arrest, saying the department doesn’t comment on ongoing criminal matters.

DiSabito’s arrest comes two years after a state prosecutor in Addison County was similarly arrested for drunken driving.

Vermont’s top court pulls Addison County prosecutor’s law license following DUI conviction

Two Upper Valley school districts will receive a share of federal funding released under pressure from Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The $11.58 million in COVID funding for 20 Vermont districts has been held up for a year by the federal Department of Education. Hartford School District is due to receive $32,410 and Orange East Supervisory Union, which oversees public schools in Bradford, Corinth, Groton, Newbury, Ryegate, Thetford and Topsham will receive $26,475.

The funding is part of $17 million in federal grants made to Vermont schools during the coronavirus pandemic that were canceled by the Trump administration in March 2025. Around $2.5 billion in American Rescue Plan Act grants were rescinded nationwide.

“As part of the Trump administration’s actions to dismantle the Department of Education, the staff who managed these federal funds were fired in March 2025, further delaying the funds from reaching Vermonters,” Sanders’ office said in a news release.

“After a year of needless delay from the Trump administration, Vermont school districts will finally receive federal funding for summer and afterschool programs, school renovations and other critical services,” Sanders said in a written statement.