WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Sentencing for Lawyer who Lied About Hit-And-Run
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Rutland, Vermont - October 14, 2009
It took 53-year-old Melvin Neisner more than a half hour to read his prepared remarks apologizing to his wife, the 50 supporters from his town of Killington and to the motorcyclist he injured two years ago while driving recklessly. He initially claimed his wife was driving but admitted his lie a month later and was convicted a year ago by a jury of gross negligent driving causing a crash, lying to police, leaving the scene of an accident and impeding the investigation.
"I have disrespected all of you and I apologize for my actions and the waste of court resources and the community's time. I cannot change what happened. But I can teach others and help others in the future if given the chance," Neisner said.
He faced up to 80 years maximum. Prosecutors requested a least one year behind bars because Neisner was not only a lawyer-- he had also been an acting traffic court magistrate who he claims handled more than 200 traffic appeals.
As for the injured motorcyclist, Michael Schumann, he did not want to hear any apology from Neisner.
"I think about being left a bloody pulp in the middle of a road. I think about the opportunity the person had that night to stop on their way by as I was lying the street. I think about the shock I felt that night when I was coming to in the emergency and I learned that Mr. Neisner was a local attorney, held public office, and adjudicated over the same arena in which he had just committed a crime," Schumann said.
Fourteen supporters testified on Neisner's behalf, claiming he was a good man who should not go to prison for one mistake. His wife tearfully begged the judge not to send her husband to prison.
In the end Judge Tom Zonay rejected a one year sentence and instead sentenced Neisner to prison for only 99 days, but Neisner won't have to go until the appeals are ruled on by the Vermont Supreme Court-- and that could take another year.
Ten months ago Neisner voluntarily stopped practicing law in Vermont and this week the response board ruled that Neisner's law license will be suspended.
Brian Joyce - WCAX News
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