Shawn LaPlant, of Rutland, has pleaded not guilty to murder in the death of Alicia Harrington. Pool photo by Robert Layman/Rutland Herald
RUTLAND – A Rutland man accused of strangling a woman and leaving her body in the backseat of her car on a remote road has shelved a bid to seek release on bail, at least for now.
Shawn LaPlant, 28, has been held without bail since his arraignment last month when he pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in the death of Alicia Harrington, 44, of Rutland.
LaPlant had been set for a hearing Monday in Rutland County Superior criminal court to determine if he could continue to be jailed without bail pending his trial.
However, Christopher Montgomery, LaPlant’s attorney, told Judge Thomas Zonay as that hearing was set to begin that his client was conceding, at least at this point, prosecutors had enough evidence to continue holding him without bail.
Under Vermont law, a person facing a possible life sentence can be held without bail on a finding by a judge that the “evidence of guilt is great.”
Montgomery told the judge that over the weekend that Rutland County State’s Attorney Rose Kennedy, who is prosecuting the case, provided him with “a substantial amount” of information that has been collected by investigators.
For the purposes of determining whether his client could continue to be held without bail, Montgomery told the judge, “We agree that the evidence of guilt is great.”
The defense attorney said he still planned to file a motion at some point in the case seeking his client’s release on bail, once he can find an appropriate residence for LaPlant where supervision can also be provided.
“I would ask to continue the hold without (bail) until such time I have a residence,” Montgomery said.
Judge Zonay then turned to LaPlant.
“The court understands, at this time then, you would agree the court would continue its hold without bail?” the judge asked him.
“Yes,” LaPlant replied.
Kennedy, the prosecutor, said in court Monday that she had more than 30 exhibits to submit in support of her argument that the “evidence of guilt is great.”
Harrington’s body was found on March 6 in her car parked along a road with few nearby residences in Proctor about 10 miles from her home.
Harrington had earlier been reported missing by her husband, who told police that she did not pick up their son at school and did not return home.
An autopsy by the chief medical examiner’s office determined that Harrington’s death was a homicide and she was strangled, according to a police affidavit filed in the case.
LaPlant, who had a relationship with Harrington, reportedly told friends he had killed Harrington.
As for the reason, the affidavit stated, one of the those friends told police that LaPlant said to her: “This is what love does.”
Jaime Harrington, Alicia Harrington’s husband, told investigators that his wife had an affair with LaPlant and then broke it off, and that she had been scared of him after that, according to the affidavit.
Harrington, when questioned by police, did not confess to the killing, but did reveal that he knew how she died: by strangulation, a detail that had not been made public from investigators, the affidavit stated.
LaPlante added, according to the police filing, he had never left Rutland on the day Harrington was reported missing.
“He said his routine was the same each day,” the affidavit stated. “He said after he woke up, he drank his coffee and played video games.”
LaPlant has no previous criminal record.
Steven Howard, an attorney representing Jaime Harrington, attended the hearing Monday.
“Our understanding of the state’s case is that the weight of evidence is very significant,” Howard said. “It’s my client’s position clearly that (LaPlant) needs to be held until this matter is fully heard.”
Read the story on VTDigger here: Rutland man accused of murder to remain jailed.