Burlington Man Sentenced to 12½ Years for Federal Drug and Firearms Charges
BURLINGTON — Deven Moffitt, a 35-year-old man from Bennington, has been sentenced to 12½ years in federal prison on drug and firearm charges linked to a police encounter in June 2022. Moffitt was previously embroiled in a 2019 murder case regarding his ex-girlfriend, Jessica Hildenbrandt, whose remains were discovered near an abandoned gravel pit in Searsburg. However, the murder charge was dismissed earlier this year due to the inability of prosecutors to confirm the identity of the remains by the trial’s start date.
During Tuesday’s proceedings in Burlington, Judge Christina Reiss emphasized that the dismissed murder charge should not influence Moffitt’s sentencing. "I’m not going to sentence you for a murder that is not before the court," she stated. Prosecutors had sought a lengthy prison term of 30 years to life, while the defense requested a lesser sentence of 7 years.
Moffitt was convicted by a federal jury for possessing fentanyl and cocaine with intent to distribute, as well as possession of firearms in connection with drug trafficking. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Gilman highlighted Moffitt’s extensive criminal history, noting prior felony convictions and the severity of the drugs involved, which contributed to the decision for a significant prison sentence.
Defense attorney Kevin Henry acknowledged the seriousness of the offenses but argued for a reduced sentence due to Moffitt’s challenging upbringing and desire to reform. Moffitt expressed remorse and a commitment to improve his life, stating he hoped to eventually become a public defender.
Following the sentencing, Gilman indicated that the state plans to refile the murder charge against Moffitt in the future.
————————————————————————
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
————————————————————————
