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A 58-year-old Vermont inmate who has tested positive for the coronavirus is asking a federal judge to release him, contending the state corrections department can’t adequately care for him.
The emergency motion was recently filed in federal court in Vermont by an attorney for Randy Sheltra, who is currently incarcerated along with 26 other inmates who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the Northeast Correctional Complex in St. Johnsbury.
Sheltra and those other inmates had previously been held at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans when blanket testing at that prison last week revealed a Covid-19 outbreak there. More than two dozen of the inmates were then moved to the St. Johnsbury facility, where space had been freed to care for Covid-19 prisoners.
Attorney Mark Kaplan, representing Sheltra, wrote in a motion submitted Friday that Sheltra should be released. The filing takes particular aim at the conditions at the Northwest facility where Sheltra was held prior to his recent move to the St. Johnsbury jail.
“The fact that Randy has contracted COVID-19 at Northwest,” the filing stated, “is of particular concern because of Randy’s medical history, as well as Northwest’s apparent inability to effectively treat Randy, which would include important concerns as to how Randy’s recovery will be monitored.”
The filing added, “Because of these concerns, Randy feels that it would be far safer for him to be able to self-isolate at home.”
Sheltra is currently incarcerated awaiting trial on attempted child luring charges stemming from his arrest in early 2018 in an online police sting operation where an agent posed as the mother of a 10-year-old girl, WCAX-TV reported at the time. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Kaplan could not immediately be reached Tuesday for comment.
Federal prosecutors, who have been given until Wednesday to file a response, declined comment Tuesday through a spokesperson.
Alan Cormier, corrections department director of facilities, disputed late Tuesday afternoon that inmates who have tested positive for the coronavirus and are housed at the St. Johnsbury facility are not receiving adequate care.
“I know the health care at the facility is more than adequate,” Cormier said, adding that he is not aware of any inmates there who have complained about the care they are receiving.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Inmate who tested positive for Covid-19 seeks release over concerns for care .