Former VT corrections officer acquitted

A jury has acquitted a former Vermont corrections officer who faced charges of sexually exploiting an inmate at the South Burlington jail in 2014.

The verdict came after 30 minutes of deliberations that capped a day-long jury trial Wednesday in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington.

William H. Savaria III, 30, of Fairfax was charged in November 2014. He resigned from the Corrections Department in January 2015.

Savaria let out a sigh after the jury's forewoman read the verdict at about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. Savaria and his lawyer then left the courthouse without comment. He had decided against a plea deal earlier this month.

Savaria had taken the stand earlier in the day as the defense's only witness. Chittenden County Deputy State's Attorney Emily McCarthy called four witnesses, including the former inmate who alleged Savaria had fondled her.

The former guard testified that inmates passed around a rumor at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility that he had “messed around” with the woman while she was incarcerated. He filed a report with the Correction Department about the rumor more than a month before the woman alleged the incident occurred.

Savaria said he followed the rules as a corrections officer and knew it was illegal to have sexual contact with inmates. However, he admitted he knew the woman as an inmate and met with her after she was released from jail.

In his testimony, Savaria called that meeting “poor moral judgement” and said it happened during a rough patch with his wife, from whom he is separated.

Savaria also said he lied to police at first about the amount of contact he had with the woman after her release from jail.

The former inmate, 20, in her trial testimony described a deal made with Savaria while she was in jail to exchange a sexual favor for cigarettes. She said one of her cellmates, who also had had a prior relationship with Savaria, arranged the deal.

Two of the inmate's three cellmates were present at the time of the incident, but she said she positioned herself in a corridor in front of the cell door so the other women would not see what was happening. She said Savaria positioned himself so he could prevent the cell door from opening.

The woman testified that she received a cigarette from Savaria later in the evening.

The Burlington Free Press typically does not identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes and is continuing to withhold the name of the woman, who still maintains she was subjected to inappropriate contact.

According to testimony, the woman never told anyone about the conduct until a detective with the Vermont Agency of Human Services questioned her about reports the investigator received from Corrections. At the time of the interview, the woman was on probation for a heroin-possession conviction.

In closing arguments, Savaria's lawyer, E.M. Allen, described the woman's statements as inconsistent and nonsensical.

"Would you rely on the word of (the inmate) to make an irrevocable or life-altering decision about someone you care about?" Allen said. "Would you believe her beyond a reasonable doubt? Or are you troubled by the fact that it's a story that starts with an account emerging from the rumor mill at the correctional center months after it allegedly took place?"

Alled added that the state "put on a number of witnesses, but in the end, it all comes down to (the woman). Your service as jurors includes a duty to protect Mr. Savaria's presumption of innocence."

Deputy State's Attorney McCarthy said the trial was about a power relationship, and that Savaria had exploited his power as a correctional officer over the more vulnerable female victim. McCarthy said the woman had no reason to lie.

This story was first posted online on March 16, 2016. Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LizMurraySMC.