Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday appointed a Washington County deputy state’s attorney to serve as a special prosecutor in Chittenden County focused on a backlog of repeat offender cases.

Zach Weight, who’s been a prosecutor in Washington County since 2023, will initially be focused on people who have five or more open cases and are awaiting trial, the governor’s office said in a press release. Weight’s appointment is effective immediately.

“My focus is to champion public safety, uphold due process for defendants, and provide compassionate support for victims,” Weight said in a written statement.

Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George said in a press release last week that there are 50 to 70 people in the county who are "repeatedly causing harm to multiple victims,” and many of them

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