Stowe Sculpture Vandalism
by Alicia Morissette
Jason Lee Mayo, of Stowe, is facing four felony counts
of unlawful mischief greater than $1,000, three misdemeanor
counts of unlawful mischief greater than $250 and one
misdemeanor count of unlawful mischief $250 or less after
vandalizing eight sculptures at the Helen Day Art Center in
Stowe on his 18th birthday.
Stowe Police Department (SPD) Officer Michael Dougherty had
been patrolling on October 5 when he witnessed a vehicle
leaving School Street around midnight. Dougherty recorded
the license plate information.
The next morning, around 7:45 a.m., a different SPD
officer had been asked to respond to the Helen Day Art
Center due to a “vandalism complaint.” Once Dougherty found
out what happened, he contacted the owner of the vehicle.
After some investigation and a tip, Dougherty was led to
Mayo.
Mayo gave a written statement to police admitting to
the vandalism and told police he “thought it would be funny
to knock over the sculptures.” The damage is estimated at
$11,000. |
Spaulding Cited
by Amy Kolb Noyes
The Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement
Division has issued a citation to Vermont Sergeant-At-Arms
Kermit Spaulding, of Stowe. An arraignment on the citation,
originally scheduled for this week, was deferred.
State’s Attorney Joel Page said, he had not “looked at”
the case, which, he qualified, if there is a case, will be
scheduled for arraignment December 5th or 12th. However,
VF&W Major Dave LeCours confirmed a citation was issued and
an affidavit was turned into the prosecutor’s office by Game
Warden Dennis Reinhardt. Although VF&W cited Spaulding for
baiting deer, official charges must be brought by the
State’s Attorney’s office.
When contacted by the News & Citizen, Reinhardt
confirmed a surveillance camera was utilized after the
discovery of a deer shot locally that had a stomach full of
corn. The citation was issued as a result of footage from
the surveillance camera.
Spaulding resigned from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife
Board three years ago after he admitted to illegally
shooting the state’s mechanical decoy deer. Spaulding was
out-of-town and could not be reached for comment before
press time.
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Stolen from Jeff Businesses
by Alicia Morissette
Three minors are suspected of stealing snowboards
and other equipment from the No School Snowboard Shop and
the Three Mountain Outfitters pro shop, in Jeffersonville,
on Wednesday, November 16.
According to investigating Vermont State Police
Sergeant Joseph Paquette, he responded to a call around
midnight that a vehicle “possibly” connected to the shop
break-ins had been seen in Fairfax.
When Paquette located the vehicle in question, he recovered
many of the stolen items. The items found in the car were
those stolen from the No School Snowboard Shop. They were
six snowboards worth $500 each, hats, ski pants, jackets and
ballcaps, said Paquette.
The individuals allegedly responsible may also be
charged in connection with how they entered the buildings.
Paquette said the No School Snowboard Shop was entered
through a window broken by the individuals, and a door was
vandalized in order to enter the second location. That might
add burglary charges.
One arrest was made, but Paquette said that minor
“checked himself into a hospital.” Police are currently
looking for another minor in Stowe, and once Paquette is
able to speak with either of these individuals, he believes
he will discover the identity of the third suspect. The
investigation is ongoing. Merchandise |
PA Dugouts
by Alicia Morissette
MORRISVILLE – In the early morning hours of Friday, November
18, ST Griswold Co Inc. arrived at Peoples Academy (PA) to
pour one of two cement slabs that will form dugouts for the
PA boys baseball team.
Amazingly, this huge undertaking began with one PA
student and baseball player, Brad Jones. Having finally been
given the opportunity to reach Eagle Scout status, one of
the highest honors in the Boy Scouts of America, Brad needed
to perform a service to the community. He knew far in
advance what he wanted to do: “We’re one of the only schools
in the state that doesn’t have dugouts.”
Brad got right to work. First, he spent the summer to
take pictures of existing dugouts at other schools. Then,
using these pictures, Brad “pencil drew the design” and
later manipulated the designs on a computer, said Sheila
Jones, Brad’s mother.
Eventually, Brad had a finished design, which he then
presented to PA Principal, Otho Thompson. Principal Thompson
approved the design and presented it to the school board.
When Brad had the school board’s approval, he then had to
find the funding to make the dugouts happen.
Brad wrote letters, including his dugout design, and sent
them to local businesses asking for donations. The community
response Brad received was tremendous. Morrisville Lumber,
Country Home Center, ST Griswold, Carroll Concrete, James
Bradley Concrete, Walker Construction, DEW, Union Bank, the
Morrisville VFW and Auxiliary and the Morrisville Baseball
and Softball Association all chipped in to make the dugouts
happen.
With the slabs set, Brad will have to work throughout the
winter to get the siding up for this spring’s season. “I
didn’t realize the amount of time it was going to take,”
said Brad. So far, the slabs have taken the most time.
“He’s an avid baseball player,” said Sheila. She
described how Brad plays baseball almost all year and
travels to many places, including Canada, New York and
surrounding states. So, it made sense that Brad would
combine his passion for baseball with his dedication to the
Boy Scouts.
However, Brad had an additional inspiration: his uncle,
whose Eagle Scout ceremony he attended when he was almost
too young to remember. For his community service, Brad’s
uncle also gave something to PA. Sheila recalled he planted
shrubbery around the school’s bandshell and redid the
railing almost 17 years ago.
In addition to designing and helping to build the boys’
two dugouts, Brad’s design will also hopefully be used to
build two dugouts in the girls’ field. Brad and Sheila said
they have “high hopes that softball will have dugouts in the
spring.” Brad will only be helping out; this time, he won’t
be directing it. According to Brad, the school already has
some funding to make the softball dugouts happen.
Being appreciative of the support he has already received,
Brad mentioned that he is still looking for donations. The
plan is to put the name of every donor on a specially
designed board that will display the donation amount in
baseball terms such as “grandslam” or “home run”.
Anyone who wants to make a donation can send checks
payable to Brad Jones to 305 Fontaine Hill Road,
Morrisville, VT 05661.
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Draper Held for Assault on
Minor
by Amy Kolb Noyes
& Alicia Morissette
HYDE PARK – Michael Draper, 41, of Morristown, is being held
without bail after pleading not guilty to charges related to
the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. If
convicted, Draper could receive a life sentence. Draper was
arraigned in Lamoille District Court, in Hyde Park, Monday
afternoon, November 21.
According to an affidavit filed with the court by Morristown
Police Corporal William Morley, Draper allegedly lured his
young neighbor into his mobile home at Pinecrest Mobile Home
Park, when she was coming home off the school bus.
Cpl. Morley reported Draper told the girl he had a cat
in his house and asked her to come and see if it was hers.
Once inside, Draper locked the door, put on a pornographic
videotape and began touching the victim. Cpl. Morley stated
the victim told him she started screaming and telling Draper
“no.” Draper reportedly struck the victim across the face
and threw her onto the floor. He then allegedly told her he
would let her go if she stopped screaming. At that point,
the victim got away.
Cpl. Morley stated in his affidavit that Draper
admitted to the circumstances surrounding the case, both
verbally and in a written sworn statement.
During Monday’s arraignment, Draper’s defense attorney
Brice Simon said Draper “contemplated killing and burying
the victim.” Simon also said there is “certainly a
psychological component” in the case, because Draper could
not afford medication for a mental illness during the time
of the alleged attack.
Deputy State’s Attorney Todd Shove handled the case and
asked that Draper be held without bail due to the risk he
poses to the community. Simon argued that if Draper was
“adequately medicated,” he would “not pose a substantial
risk.”
In addition to this argument, Simon asked if Draper
could be given a screening at the St. Johnsbury Correctional
Center (SJCC) that would allow Draper to enter the Vermont
State Hospital in Waterbury, where Draper could receive
proper treatment – which Simon claimed Draper was not
receiving at SJCC.
Judge Dennis R. Pearson said he would agree to Deputy SA
Shove’s recommendation because Draper would still be a
threat even if he was properly medicated, and taking into
account the added factor that the alleged victim lives next
door to Draper. The request for a mental health screening at
SJCC was not addressed.
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New Radios for Morristown
by Amy Kolb Noyes
MORRISVILLE – The Morristown Police Department will soon be
equipped with all new digital radios, thanks to a grant from
the Department of Homeland Security. Five mobile units have
arrived and are being installed. The five units will cover
the department’s four cruisers plus one for the base. In
addition, seven portable radios are on their way, according
to Police Chief Richard Keith. The department has also
received five new VHF analog radios, to keep up
communications with the local fire and rescue departments
that are not on a digital system.
“Digital has a much greater capacity for channels,”
Chief Keith explained. The new digital radios are capable of
matching channels with other Vermont departments, as well as
authorities in other states. He said Morristown officers
should now be able to communicate with law enforcement
outfits across New England.
“These are very high quality radios and very
expensive,” said Chief Keith. He said the radios cost about
$4,000 each.
Corporal William Morley compiled the necessary information
and applied for the grant last January. Morristown was
notified of the grant award this spring. In addition to
$53,300 for digital radios, the grant also paid for four
sets of body armor to equip the four cruisers. Those
bulletproof vests cost around $900 each.
Chief Keith said he hopes to trade in all of the
department’s old radios to purchase one additional portable
radio. That would allow each officer to carry his own
portable.
Nationwide, Chief Keith said the goal is to have all
departments on digital frequencies sometime between the
years 2009 and 2012. This grant, he said, has put Morristown
ahead on the technology curve.
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One Suspect Charged in Brutal Beating
by Alicia Morissette
Eddie Badeau, one of four young men suspected of brutally
beating Daniel Bolio, has been charged with two counts of
felony aggravated assault and one count of a misdemeanor
simple assault.
There are several accounts concerning the events of
Saturday, November 12, but the result of the early morning’s
events was the same; Bolio sustained “a cut above his right
eye,” eyes that were “puffy red and swollen shut,” minor
abrasions on his face and back, a “boot mark” on his back, a
concussion, two broken front teeth and broken facial bones,
according to court documents.
The alleged reason for the assault is that Bolio
“steals from people,” which was what police were told by
several people involved. The reasons become more specific,
with one witness stating Bolio attempted to “steal a CD
player from Badeau some time ago.” Another reason given by
Kyle Miller, one of the young men involved, was that Bolio
had “supposedly stolen $50 from Miller some time ago.”
Badeau told police, “he only hit Bolio a few times. He
advised he kicked him because Bolio had tried to break into
his car four or five months ago.” Gregory Cochran, another
suspect in the case, told police he “grabbed Bolio and Bolio
hit him twice. Cochran then hit Bolio about two or three
times.”
One witness told Officer Giaquinto, “Badeau punched Bolio in
the side of the face and he dropped to his knees and lay on
the floor. Badeau then started kicking Bolio in the head...
[Adam] Barup, Badeau, and [Greg] Cochran went outside about
three times. When they would return from the vehicle they
were boasting about hitting Bolio.”
In addition to this account, Officer Giaquinto was told
that Bolio managed to leave the vehicle in which he had been
placed and walked toward Cumberland Farms. According to what
one witness told police, “Badeau, Cochran, and Miller went
and got him... [and] started beating on him again.”
Eventually, Bolio ended up on the Copley Hospital steps at
2:57 a.m., when a station wagon was seen on a surveillance
tape leaving the parking lot.
In addition to the surveillance tape, police also found a
“beer can, a black ripped t-shirt with dry blood on it and
two human teeth,” in the back of a vehicle and a blanket
with dried blood, which was obtained inside the apartment
where all of the accused individuals and Bolio met for a
party.
If convicted of these crimes, Badeau could be
incarcerated for up to 31 years and or be forced to pay up
to $21,000.
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