Community Corner

Plea Deal Offer for Ex-Councilman Came and Went, AG's Office Says

Case against Dr. Vincent Esposito could be presented to a grand jury.

The Attorney General's Office said Wednesday there is no plea deal currently being offered to Vincent Esposito, a Madison physician who was charged with distributing drugs last year for allegedly selling painkiller prescriptions to people he never examined.

During a Tuesday court appearance, it was brought up that a five-year state prison plea deal was offered when Esposito had a different defense attorney, Peter Gilbreth, but the offer was not accepted at the time.

Esposito's new defense attorney, Robert Dunn, whose first court appearance with Esposito was Tuesday, said Wednesday he understood his client still had the option of accepting the offer. But the Attorney General's office said Wednesday that although the previous plea offer was mentioned in court this week, there is no plea deal on the table at present.

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If there is no plea deal, either because the Attorney General's office is no longer offering one or because Esposito will not accept one, prosecutors will present their case to a grand jury to seek an indictment. If there is an indictment, they could try to reach another plea deal, otherwise it would go to trial.

Esposito, who has denied the charges, was a member of the Madison Borough Council when he was arrested nearly a year ago and served the remainder of his term on the borough's governing body.

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He is charged with second-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and conspiracy, charges that carry a possible sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

Esposito maintained a medical practice on Main Street in Madison. In March, he agreed to temporarily surrender his medical license pending the disposition of the case.


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