By Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First

BURLINGTON – A Rutland County man, who was linked to four armed robberies two years ago, is back behind bars after his latest holdup, authorities said.

Joey Miles Sherwood, 33, of Brandon is facing a federal felony charge in connection with a knifepoint robbery at the Jiffy Mart in Brandon on Oct. 27.

Sherwood, formerly of Center Rutland, also is facing a charge of violating his federal supervised conditions that were imposed after he completed a 38-month federal prison term imposed in 2022 for his involvement in the four armed robberies in 2022.

Sherwood was released back to the community on Aug. 14.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt successfully argued in federal court on Wednesday afternoon that Sherwood needed to be detained as a danger to the community.

“Based on the speed in which defendant Sherwood returned to committing knife-point” robberies, Ophardt wrote, there is no combination of conditions that could be set that could “reasonably assure the safety of the community.”

Assistant Federal Defender Steven Barth said the defense would not contest the detention request for the time being.

Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle agreed to hold Sherwood until at least Nov. 19 when a probable cause hearing is planned for both the new robbery charge and the petition for violating his supervised release conditions.

Brandon Police reported the Jiffy Mart on the corner of U.S. 7 and McConnell Road was robbed about 7:45 p.m. Oct. 27. The store, also known as Green Mountain Market, is north of Otter Valley Union High School.

The bandit entered the store and requested “two packs of Marbs,” police said. When told the price, the robber brandished a hunting knife and ordered the store clerk to surrender all the money in the cash register, court records show. The robber made off with $371.

The store security video was later replayed for two store employees, including one worker related to the defendant. They both said the robber was Sherwood, Brandon Police Cpl. Michael VonSchleusinger reported.

Brandon Police obtained an arrest warrant after more evidence tied Sherwood into the robbery, officials said.

Town police later received a tip that Sherwood was at a home on Brookdale Street on Oct. 30. Brandon Officer Joseph Mannino, the lead investigator, and Police Chief David Kachajian responded to the residence and ordered Sherwood out of the house at gunpoint, police said.

He was taken initially to state court on the warrant and pleaded not guilty to assault and robbery with a weapon. He was ordered held without bail at the Oct. 30 hearing.

Rutland County State’s Attorney Ian Sullivan later agreed to dismiss the felony count when federal authorities said they planned to adopt the case because he was already on federal supervised release.

Vermont State Police Detective Sgt. Jeffrey Stephenson, who is assigned to a special FBI Task Force in Vermont, drafted an affidavit for a criminal complaint so the case could be filed in federal court.

Stephenson said State Police Sgt. Robert Rider spotted a Toyota Prius shortly after the robbery on Corn Hill Road in Pittsford and the driver abandoned it at a private residence. The driver, in a t-shirt, was seen walking away in the rain, police said.

Rider reported the homeowner later said there was no reason for the car to be at the residence. It was impounded and a search warrant requested.

The next day police learned the owner had allowed Sherwood to use the car, Stephenson said. A search of the car located a gray sweatshirt identical to the one used by the robber, police said.

Federal authorities say since Sherwood’s release from prison in mid-August, he has been a failure following many of his court-imposed supervised release conditions.

Sherwood violated at least five separate conditions — some of them multiple times — over the past few months, the U.S. Probation Office said.

Besides being arrested on a new armed robbery count, Sherwood tested positive for and admitted using marijuana on Sept. 16, records show.

Sherwood also failed to tell his probation officer within 72 hours that he had been questioned by Brandon Police Officer Ethan Kelleher on Sept. 13, records note.

Sherwood also failed to call or show up at the probation office at least three times between Oct. 8 and 23, records show.

He also failed to appear for drug testing and/or did not complete his substance abuse assessment at Rutland Mental Health Services four times between Oct. 9 and 22, records show.

It was three years ago that Sherwood was involved in a string of armed robberies in the Rutland County region.

He pleaded guilty to a felony knifepoint robbery charge at the Cumberland Farms Store on North Main Street in Wallingford on Aug. 1, 2021, but also acknowledged he committed two other knifepoint holdups and one attempted robbery.

Judge Christina Reiss, who imposed the 38-month prison term in June 2022, told Sherwood that he would be on supervised release for three years once discharged from prison.

As part of the sentencing, Reiss also ordered $746 in restitution, including $156 for the Cumberland Farms Store. It also included $450 for a holdup at the Union Street Market in Brandon on Aug. 21. It also covered $140 for a robbery at Maplefields Mobil in Pittsford on Aug. 1, 2021.

Sherwood, a life-long resident of Rutland County and 2008 graduate of Otter Valley Union, also acknowledged he attempted to rob the Shoreham Service Station also on Aug. 21, 2021, but the store clerk refused to surrender any money and instead threatened to call 911, records show.

The federal sentencing guidelines, which are advisory, had recommended a prison term somewhere between 51 and 63 months. Reiss opted for 38 months.

Assistant Federal Defender Sara M. Puls had maintained Sherwood had been a law-abiding citizen until two years earlier. He had held a job at Vermont Protective Coatings in Brandon for about six years until he lost his job in early 2020.

She said Sherwood was trying to provide for his longtime girlfriend while she studied. Things went downhill and he turned to drugs, she said. He was arrested in New Hampshire and released on conditions. He continued to spiral downward and committed the Vermont robberies to feed his drug habit, Puls said.

She proposed a 2-year prison sentence and 3 years on supervised release.

Then-Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly G. Ang said deterrence was important in violent crimes, including robberies. The impact is great and long-term on the low-paid store clerks getting a knife pointed at them during a robbery, she said.