A second Come Unite event takes place next week on April 8, the eve of convicted sex offender Richard Laws being released from prison. The event starts at 7 p.m. at Waitsfield Elementary School.
At the April 8 event, public safety officials will provide an updated picture of Laws as well as information about where he intends to live. The woman he assaulted in 1992, Sue Russell, Warren, received a restraining order prohibiting Laws from being in the Mad River Valley except to drive through it via Route 17 and Route 100. Laws is considered a high-risk sex offender who has undergone no rehabilitative treatment while in prison.
Next week's event is aimed at providing support for Russell and her family. It will feature an informational panel, community discussion and next steps with Vermont agencies, community representatives and others. Panelists include co-facilitators Karen Vastine and Sarah Kenney; Anne Seymour, National Speaker, Justice Solutions, Washington, DC; Amy Holloway, director of Vermont Victim Services from Department of Corrections; Lt. Matthew Nally and Det. Andy Campagne from the Vermont State Police; Bobbi Gagne, executive director of Sexual Assault Crisis Team (SACT); Meg Kuhner, Circle (formerly Battered Women's Services and Shelter); state Representative Maxine Grad; and Washington County State's Attorney Scott Williams. For more information call (802) 496-2713 and leave a message for a return call.
Light refreshments will be served.
