St. Albans attorney pleads not guilty to misdemeanors

A St. Albans defense attorney pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges Friday following a roadside altercation.

Peter Martin, 74, entered a not guilty plea to charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in Vermont Superior Court in St. Albans. Through his lawyer, Martin alleges that he was injured by police in connection with the incident.

Martin was released on conditions, including a court order barring him from contacting tow truck driver Todd St. Pierre, according to Addison County Deputy State's Attorney Chris Perkett.

Perkett said the charges against Martin stemmed from an incident that occurred Thursday. It began as a verbal argument and escalated at the side of the road, Perkett said.

Perkett's office was asked to take over the case for the State's Attorney's Office in Franklin County, where Martin has a legal practice, to avoid conflicts of interest.

Martin was arrested by Officer Michael Malinowski of the St. Albans Police Department and was issued a citation to appear Friday.

Martin's attorney, Peter Langrock of Langrock, Sperry and Wool, said the incident began when Martin was pulled over for having a tinted window. Langrock said his client has the window because of an eye condition.

Martin has undergone detached retina operations and also has a heart condition, Langrock said.

As a result of Thursday's incident, Martin needed stitches. He received a cut on his left eyebrow and his left shoulder was injured, according to Langrock.

When asked about the injuries, Langrock said: "They came from the police."

St. Albans Police Chief Gary Taylor declined comment Friday, saying he was out of town and did not know the details.

It is rare for a state prosecutor to act as conflict of interest counsel, Perkett said. He has done so about five times in 10 years. He also acknowledged the rarity of a criminal defense attorney answering to charges of his own.

Contact Jessie Forand at jforand@freepressmedia.com or 651-4859.