Case Title: State v. Bensh

Citation: 168 Vt. 607, 719 A.2d 1155

Docket Number: 

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 1998-08-31T00:00:00Z

Document:
State v. Bensh  (97-338); 168 Vt. 607; 719 A.2d 1155

[Filed 31-Aug-1998]

                                 ENTRY ORDER

                       SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 97-338

                               JUNE TERM, 1998

State of Vermont                      }       APPEALED FROM:
                                      }
     v.                               }       District Court of Vermont
                                      }       Unit No. 2, Addison Circuit
Richard George Bensh                  }
                                      }       DOCKET NO. 235-5-93 AnCr

       In the above-entitled cause, the Clerk will enter:

       Defendant Richard G. Bensh appeals a district court's determination
  that he was in violation of probation conditions when he was observed
  consuming alcoholic beverages.  Defendant argues that, because he had
  completed his parole period, he was no longer on probation and subject to
  its conditions.  We affirm.

       In March 1994, defendant was convicted for a third time of driving
  while under the influence of alcohol.  He was sentenced to two to five
  years of incarceration, all suspended but one year.  At the time of
  sentencing, the court issued a probation warrant -- which defendant signed
  -- placing defendant on probation until further order of the court.  As a
  condition of his probation, he was required to refrain from purchasing,
  possessing, or consuming alcoholic beverages.

       Defendant began serving the one-year unsuspended portion of his
  sentence in May 1994.  On November 23, 1994, defendant was placed on
  parole.  The parole agreement also contained the condition that defendant
  refrain from purchasing, possessing, or consuming alcoholic beverages
  during the term of his parole. Defendant completed his parole without
  incident in May 1995.

       Defendant's probation officer petitioned the court in December 1996 to
  discharge defendant from probation.  The petition was denied by the court
  on December 20, 1996, citing the seriousness of the offense for which
  defendant was sentenced.

       On April 18, 1997, defendant was cited for consuming alcohol in
  violation of his probation agreement.  Following an admission to the
  conduct alleged in the violation complaint, the court revoked defendant's
  probation.  The court sentenced defendant to serve his underlying sentence. 
  This appeal followed.

       Defendant's argument, that he had completed parole and could no longer
  be held on probation, is without merit.  Parole and probation are separate
  obligations that offenders fulfill independently of each other.  See Miner
  v. Chater, 137 Vt. 330, 335,