Public defender Elizabeth Kruska, right, talks with Dale Vodden, who lived in White River Junction, during his May arraignment in Windsor Superior Court in White River Junction.
Public defender Elizabeth Kruska, right, talks with Dale Vodden, who lived in White River Junction, during his May arraignment in Windsor Superior Court in White River Junction. Credit: Valley News — James M. Patterson

Man Sentenced to Time Served For Sexual Exploitation

White River Junction — A 57-year-old Michigan man who had been living in the Upper Valley has pleaded guilty to luring a child for sex at a church in 2015 and lying to police about the encounter.

Windsor Superior Court Judge Theresa DiMauro on Tuesday sentenced Dale Vodden to 10 months in jail for sexual exploitation and providing false information to a law enforcement officer. Vodden was released after the hearing; he completed the sentence while awaiting a resolution to his case.

Prosecutor Heidi Remick said Vodden in May approached a girl under the age of 16 at Riverbank Church in White River Junction and said “have sex with me.” The girl told her mother about the situation, and she in turn alerted the police, according to an affidavit in the case.

The victim in the case prepared a statement that was read aloud in court by a victim’s advocate. The girl said Vodden stole “some of my innocence.” She encouraged other victims to come forward if they experience unwanted sexual advances.

Vodden was scheduled to take a bus back to Michigan on Tuesday evening.

He will be required to register as a sex offender.

Vermont Seeks Input on Recycling Law

Hartford — Vermont residents are being asked to fill out an online survey to help the state track the impact of Act 148, a law promoting the universal recycling of waste by Vermont consumers and businesses.

The survey, which is available on the Hartford town website, asks a variety of questions, such as what the survey taker currently does with food scraps, and whether he or she pays for trash pickup by weight.

The survey, which will be available until April 10, will be conducted again in 2021, the first year after the law fully takes effect. Under Act 148, recycling of materials like plastic, cardboard and glass became mandatory in July 2015, and the recycling of leaves and clean wood becomes mandatory in July 2016. All food waste will be banned from landfills by July 2020.

Vermont Farm to Keep Honor System Despite Syrup Theft

Dummerston, Vt. — An eight-generation family farm in Vermont isn’t changing its tradition of doing business with the honor system, even after someone stole more than 63 gallons of maple syrup from their farm stand.

The theft from the Miller and Son Orchards farm store in Dummerston, which happened between Sunday night and Monday morning, marks the second time since 2003 that someone made off with a large amount of syrup from the farm. A Putney man was convicted in 2005 of stealing about 75 gallons, using his own labels and selling it.

— Staff and wire reports