Officer Pleads No Contest in Shooting; No Jail

A Vermont police officer won't be going to jail after pleading no contest to two charges stemming from the wounding of a mentally ill man.

Winooski Police Cpl. Jason Nokes changed his plea Wednesday to charges of reckless endangerment and lying to investigators. He will serve two years on probation.

The 43-year-old Nokes of Milton had pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault with a weapon and other charges stemming from the April 2013 shooting of Isaac Sage. Nokes had claimed he acted in self- defense.

Chittenden County State's Attorney T.J. Donovan said an unarmed citizen was shot, it was unjustified and Nokes lied about it.

Nokes' attorney Brooks McArthur says the outcome of the case is not ideal, but it's "significantly better than it could have been."