Former Bristol man gets 18 years in prison for plotting with mother to kill his stepfather

A former Bristol man has been sentenced to at least 18 years in prison for conspiring with his mother to kill her husband, who was also his stepfather.

In a deal with prosecutors last year, Kory George, 36, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the 2019 death of David Auclair, 45.

Both the judge and the victim’s sister chastised George during the sentencing Monday in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington, with Judge Kevin Griffin calling the circumstances of the crime “horrific.”

“From everything that’s been presented to the court, the victim in this case cared deeply about you and played a significant role in your life,” Griffin told George. “To engage in a conspiracy that ended up luring him to that site in Hinesburg for what was an execution killing is about as bad as it gets.”

David Auclair’s sister, Melisa Semprebon, told George that he had “lured (his stepfather) out and turned on him.”

“You chose a brutal act of hate,” she said, “to murder the best man in your life.”

Griffin said he was willing to accept the plea agreement reached by the prosecution and the defense. The judge then sentenced George under the terms of that deal to 35 years to life in prison, all suspended except 18 years to serve in prison.

Prosecutors have alleged Angela Auclair, George’s mother who was married to David Auclair, pulled the trigger in the fatal shooting. The 51-year-old pleaded guilty earlier this year to the same charge as George as part of a plea agreement and had been awaiting sentencing.

She had at one point been scheduled to be sentenced on Monday as well. But, according to court records, that hearing was scrapped after she had requested a new attorney.

Chittenden County Deputy State’s Attorney Susan Hardin, the prosecutor, said in court Monday that the plea agreement with George took into consideration several factors, including the brutal nature of the crime and his willingness to cooperate with the prosecution of his mother.

Dan Sedon, George’ attorney, told the judge that because of his client’s role as a witness, George did not want to provide a public statement at the sentencing hearing Monday.

“He feels that the less he says right now the better,” Sedon said of his client, adding, “He did, however, want the court to know, and everyone else to know, that he considers daily the impact of his actions on everyone affected.”

According to documents filed in the case , George and his mother had discussed killing David Auclair weeks earlier and then lured him to the trailhead where the shooting took place July 11, 2019.

David Auclair was shot 11 times, the court filing stated.

George initially denied any involvement in his stepfather’s death and told police he was at a friend’s house in Burlington that night, according to a police affidavit.

That affidavit indicated that “preliminary digital evidence” from George’s cellphone undercut his story, showing him in the region around Hinesburg, Monkton and Williston, before and after the time of the killing.

Semprebon, the victim’s sister, told the court she hoped the proceeding would bring “some justice and closure” to the long-running case.

She described her brother as “a little bit country and a little bit rock ’n’ roll,” as well as a patriotic person who supported the military and first responders.

Semprebon also talked of the role her brother played in George’s life.

“He was not biologically your father, but he did raise you,” she said to George, “and was the only person that actually parented you and held you accountable for your actions.”

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