A state employee not only carried a loaded gun and extra ammunition but also had a series of ballistic charts

A state employee working in the Orleans County Courthouse building in Newport not only carried a loaded gun and extra ammunition but also had a series of ballistic charts and angle calculations on his office filing cabinets for “long distance rifle applications.” That’s according to redacted public documents released by the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS), Office of Safety and Security on Friday. In addition, the investigation revealed that the employee’s social media accounts – which he allegedly used under an alias – included pictures of a rifle with a barrel out a window and other pictures including a handgun, hunting images and the private military contract firm “Blackwater.” But the report also indicates that the employee had allegedly been having emotional breakdowns at work due to personal issues and had a reported issue with a co-worker leading to the closing of the courthouse for a month. Multiple sources have identified the employee who worked as a legal assistant for the Orleans County State’s Attorney’s Office but according to state records, he is no longer employed by the state. No criminal or civil charges were filed following investigations by BGS, the Vermont State Police and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office. The first issues involving the man with the gun and law enforcement occurred on Nov. 8, 2022, after he was allegedly found to be in possession of a loaded handgun in the courthouse building on Main Street in Newport.