NEAL P. GOSWAMI

Staff Writer

BENNINGTON -- Bennington Superior Court Criminal Division Judge Cortland T. Corsones is unlikely to issue a ruling on whether search warrants sought by the Banner are public until next week, according to court staff.

Court Operations Manager Wendy Dickie said Thursday that Corsones still has a motion filed by attorney David F. Silver under advisement. Silver, of the Bennington-based law firm Barr, Sternberg, Moss, Lawrence & Silver, is seeking to seal search warrants served on Monday against Thomas Lyons.

Police have said Lyons, a Bennington resident who owns Bennington Subaru, has been under investigation for about one month for possible criminal activity. Several sources have confirmed that the ongoing investigation involves an alleged prostitution ring.

Warrants served

A hearing was held Wednesday during which Silver made oral arguments for sealing the warrants. The two warrants were served at Lyons’ home and business. Police said property was removed from both sites.

A third warrant in the case targeting an unnamed woman was served on Wednesday, but was not included in Silver’s written motion. The Banner requested on Thursday a copy of the third warrant and the supporting information. Dickie said the court could not release the documents because one of the parties made an oral motion on the record during the closed portion of Wednesday’s hearing. The motion asked that the third warrant also be put under seal.

Silver said he made the oral motion because the information contained in the affidavits for all three warrants is very similar and it would make "no sense to seal this one and allow the other one out."

Contact Neal Goswami at ngoswami@benningtonbanner.com; follow him on Twitter @NealGoswami