BENNINGTON — The jury in a two-day child sexual assault case involving the alleged yearslong abuse of then 4-year-old twins starting in 2011 announced, after deliberating for nearly four hours, that they were hopelessly deadlocked on all four of the felony charges.

Soon after, Bennington Judge John Valente declared a mistrial.

At 7:16 p.m., a little less than four hours after deliberations began, a note came into the courtroom indicating that the jury was deadlocked. After conferring with lawyers from both sides, Valente offered both sides the option of asking the jury whether coming back the next morning might be an option in order to continue with their deliberations.

Defense attorney Daniel Stern, after conferring with his client, objected and asked the judge to declare a mistrial. P

See Full Page