Salisbury Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Possessing a Stolen Firearm

Rutland, Vermont - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont stated that on August 21, 2024, Scott Clark, 41, of Salisbury, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mae D'Agostino to 78 months' imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Clark previously pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen firearm on July 13, 2023.

According to court records, on September 23, 2022, Clark unlawfully entered a camper which had been parked at a campground in Salisbury, Vermont. While inside of the camper, Clark located and took possession of a Glock Model G23 .40 caliber pistol that belonged to the camper's owner. Clark was confronted by a Vermont State Police trooper responding to complaints of a suspicious person attempting to break into campers at the campground. While Clark was being questioned he clandestinely removed the Glock from his person and provided it to his girlfriend, who was standing nearby and then placed the Glock in her purse. The Vermont State Police trooper observed the Glock in the girlfriend's purse and seized the pistol.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police, the Middlebury Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Ophardt and Thomas J. Aliberti. Clark was represented by Karen Shingler, Esq.