NEWPORT, Vt. – Katelyn Deslandes, 25, of Island Pond, reached a plea agreement in a case where she was facing charges related to a fatal accident. The accident resulted in the deaths of two 18-year-olds, Logan Costa of Charleston and Taylor Warren of Lunenberg. The jury for the case had already been selected when Deslandes accepted the plea agreement.
Initially, Deslandes faced two felony charges of grossly negligent driving resulting in a fatality. However, on September 11, she agreed to plead guilty to two lesser charges of negligent driving resulting in a death. The plea agreement was signed by Assistant Orleans County State’s Attorney Sarah Baker, Deslandes, and her lawyer, Kelly Green. The agreement capped the sentence Deslandes could receive at two to four years in prison, but also left her the ability to argue for any lawful sentence.
The plea agreement brings a tragic case to a resolution, providing closure for the families involved. The decision to accept the plea agreement was likely a difficult one for all parties involved, given the severity of the charges and the tragic nature of the accident.
The sentencing of Katelyn Deslandes under the terms of the plea agreement is the next phase of this legal process. It will likely bring about a sense of closure and justice for the families and loved ones of Logan Costa and Taylor Warren.
In the end, the plea agreement reached by Deslandes and the Assistant Orleans County State’s Attorney Sarah Baker resulted in a significant reduction in the charges she faced, allowing for a resolution to be reached in this tragic case.