August 5, 2026:

Two themes ran through the past seven days. The first was violence among people who already knew each other — a shooting in Newbury, a bat attack in Plainfield, domestic assault arrests in half a dozen towns. The second was resolution, as courts in Bennington, Rutland and Addison closed long-running felony files.

Addison: Kevin Tower, 29, of Cornwall was sentenced on six felony counts of first-degree aggravated domestic assault plus a misdemeanor assault and a violation of conditions. Judge Alison Arms imposed two to five years, all suspended but 10 months, with electronic monitoring and a firearms ban. Read more

Bennington: Malik Hardy pleaded guilty to aggravated stalking with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment and reckless operation; three other counts were dismissed with prejudice. The charges stem from a March incident in which he allegedly pursued a man he knew by vehicle. The court granted a deferred sentence with probation. Read more

Caledonia: Police took Jennifer Ricker, 34, into custody after what they describe as an armed robbery Thursday evening at the Domino's Pizza in St. Johnsbury. Investigators say she showed a gun to an employee and left with cash. Welcome Center video helped identify her, and K-9 teams tracked her from discarded clothing. Read more

Chittenden: Burlington police cited Douglas Knapp, 79, for negligent operation resulting in death in the July 16 crash that killed 16-year-old e-bike rider Shiloh Skalka. Police say they consulted the county State's Attorney before settling on the charge. Knapp is due in court Aug. 27. Read more

Franklin: A federal grand jury indicted Troy McIlwain, 37, of St. Albans, Angel Concepcion, 37, of Texas, and David Lauderbach, 42, of Milton on conspiracy to distribute cocaine and eight distribution counts. Prosecutors allege Concepcion ran the operation remotely and that he and McIlwain moved over 40 grams of fentanyl. Read more

Lamoille: Troopers running radar on Route 15 in Hyde Park clocked a car at 68 in a posted 50 zone Aug. 2. They identified the driver as Gordon Whitcomb, 57, of Hardwick and reported indicators of impairment. He was released on a citation, due in Lamoille County Superior Court Aug. 19. Read more

Orange: State police identified two people injured in a Sunday shooting on Jefferson Hill Road in Newbury. Jonathan Garneau, 43, of Barre City was shot in the leg and remains hospitalized in stable condition; Amanda Belville, 41, of Cabot was assaulted. VSP says the parties knew each other and is seeking a bright yellow truck. Read more

Orleans: Two men were cited after troopers say one pointed a firearm at the other in the McDonald's lot on U.S. Route 5 in Derby. Police found Zachary Flemming, 34, of Albany and Thomas Annis, 21, of Newport City. Flemming was cited for aggravated disorderly conduct, Annis for reckless endangerment. Read more

Rutland: Courtney Samplatsky, 39, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 2022 killing of Sincere Johnson, 46. The state dropped a murder charge for a sentence of roughly 15 to 20 years, suspended except 10 to serve. She admitted going to a Baxter Street home to steal drugs. Read more

Washington: Jennifer Harman, 57, of Plainfield is held without bail after a July that escalated across three arraignments. It began as a dispute over a man renting a room at her Barre Hill Road home. She later pleaded not guilty to felony aggravated assault after police said she struck the sleeping man with a baseball bat. Read more

Windham: Brattleboro police ran a townwide enforcement detail Tuesday with state police, the Vermont Drug Task Force, Corrections, Bellows Falls police, the county State's Attorney and the sheriff. The stated goal was reducing open drug activity in the neighborhoods drawing the most complaints. Twelve people were arrested. Read more

Windsor: William Britton, 58, of Hartford was arraigned on one felony count of luring a child. The Attorney General's Office says the charge followed a Hartford Police investigation run with the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Britton pleaded not guilty; the court set $10,000 bail and restricted his internet access. Read more

Vermont State Police:

Berlin — Lewd and lascivious conduct with a child

Troopers responded to a dispute on Main Street in Cabot on Aug. 4. Investigators say Troy Borland, 43, of Cabot had inappropriate contact with a juvenile. He was taken into custody without incident and cited to Washington County Superior Court for Aug. 12. Read more

Westminster — Multiple felony charges in Athens

An investigation opened in spring 2025 led to the arrest of David Covey, 33, of Athens on first-degree aggravated domestic assault, three counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child and alcohol charges. The alleged conduct spans 2018 to 2024. He was lodged without bail. Read more

Rutland BCI — Assaulting a protected professional

Corrections notified troopers July 23 that inmate Christopher Onorato, 47, of Bennington had assaulted two staff at Marble Valley Correctional Center. Investigators say he wielded a sharpened toothbrush that punctured an officer's arm. He is due in court Aug. 31. Read more

Derby — False reports to law enforcement

Detectives opened a case in June into a claim that a correctional officer in Newport assaulted an inmate in March 2025. Police say video captured the incident in full and showed the assault did not occur. Inmate Joseph Robar, 39, was cited Aug. 3. Read more

Our thanks to the troopers, deputies, municipal officers and correctional staff who worked these cases — the six agencies that took to the street in Brattleboro, and the detectives still knocking on doors in Newbury. Difficult, often thankless work, and Vermont is safer for it.