Vermont Courts Might Stop Giving Neo-Nazi Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card…Might

How many times can the rest of us violate the conditions of our bail and expect to remain on the street? Vermont has neo-Nazi Max Misch up to eight times, and the tally may continue to go up if this latest move doesn’t work.

BENNINGTON COUNTY, VT – When Max Misch was arrested for possession of large-capacity rifle magazines in 2019, he was released on bail. Since then, he has been arrested for various infractions, ranging from leaving the county to purchasing a handgun to witness tampering to assault. Each time he was arrested however, he was released regardless of the numerous violations.

His eighth time might just be the charm.

According to the VT Digger, the State Attorney General is seeking to revoke bail for the neo-fascist, calling on Judge Cortland Corsones to hold him in custody. This comes after his latest arrest on obstruction of justice after it was alleged he attempted to coerce a woman he is accused of assaulting last Christmas Eve to lie during her deposition regarding the assault charge.

“It is the State’s position that Defendant’s inability to follow Court orders for the past two and a half years, and his disregard for the judicial process, as evidenced by him questioning a witness in this matter and a victim in a separate matter, illustrate that Defendant’s conduct is an ongoing threat to the judicial system,” the filing from the Attorney General’s Office read.

Misch first made headlines after he harassed former Vermont Kiah Morris, the only Black woman serving in the Vermont House of Representatives, so much she resigned her post in September of 2018. At the time the Attorney General’s office found that the harassment did not rise to the level of criminal behavior, but in May, an investigation from the Vermont Human Rights Commission concluded that the Bennington, VT Police Department failed to adequately investigate alleged racially-charged threats from Misch towards Kiah Morris and endangered Morris’ safety by withholding crucial information from her and her family. The town of Bennington announced a $137,500 settlement to Morris and her family in April. They have since left Bennington.

Prosecutors have attempted to have Misch held in the past, including in July when he was arrested on the latest assault charge when the Attorney General’s office asked for him to be placed under house arrest but was denied. Criminal defendants in Vermont that are released on conditions are expected not to be charged with new crimes while their cases are ongoing, however Misch, who has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him, including charges of repeatedly violating the conditions of his release, has been accused of doing so eight times over the past two years.

Curiously, Misch has been on Facebook commenting on at least the posting on the VT Digger Facebook page about the conditions of his July arrest relaxed to allow him to have contact with the woman he allegedly assaulted. Attacking a woman who called him a “menace to society,” he replied, “LOL What happened to presumed innocent until proven guilty? I guess we shouldn’t bother with a trial, right?” His own Facebook page features anti-Semitic, racist and Nazi sympathizing messages.

Judge Corsones has not scheduled a hearing on this latest request.

Max Misch’s recent run-ins with the law

Feb. 6, 2019 – Charged with two counts of illegally possessing two large-capacity rifle magazines in violation of Vermont gun control statutes that took effect in 2018. Released on bail.

July 2, 2019 – Violated the conditions of his release by speaking with his ex-wife, a witness in the firearms case.

July 18, 2019 – Arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after he purchased a new firearm on March 30, almost two months after a court had imposed conditions restricting him from buying, having or using firearms and other weapons. Paid for the gun in full, but it was still in the possession of the dealer.

Aug. 18, 2019 – Violated the conditions of his release by leaving the county and going to a bar in Hoosick Falls, NY.

Aug. 31, 2020 – Arrested on charges of disorderly conduct after attempting to prevent a Black Lives Matter mural from being painted.

Sept. 14, 2020 – Hit with disorderly conduct and hate crime charges after using racist slurs in front of police during an altercation on a street with a biracial couple, telling the White girlfriend that she would probably be “raped or killed by a Black guy if you look at the stats online.”

May 29, 2021 – Violated the conditions of his release by speaking with his ex-wife again.  

July 2, 2021 – Arrested for aggravated domestic assault for choking a woman on Christmas Eve last year. She did not report the incident to the police until July. On Aug. 11, the judge moved to amend conditions, allowing him to have contact with the woman.

Nov. 14, 2021 – Arrested on a felony charge of obstruction of justice stemming from him allegedly trying to get the woman he’s accused of assaulting to lie during her deposition in relation to the assault charge.