by Guy Page

An 81-year-old Maidstone man has pleaded innocent this week Tuesday for allegedly firing multiple shots toward his neighbor’s residence, Vermont State Police said.

Larry Mclain was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and reckless endangerment following the incident on Huntington Road in the Essex County town. 

At approximately 2:40 p.m., state police received a call from Marcel Sirois, 63, who reported that his neighbor had shot at his home multiple times.

Troopers investigating the incident determined that Mclain had fired a gun several times in the direction of Sirois’ residence. No bullets struck the home and no injuries were reported, according to police.

According to an Essex County law enforcement source, Mclain was tested for alcohol consumption after the arrest. This isn’t the first law enforcement encounter with Mclain recklessly firing a weapon on his property – about 30 years ago he fired at people driving a car with out-of-state plates, calling them ‘flatlanders,’ even though they were Vermont residents, the source said. 

Sex Snapchat with a juvenile – A Waterbury man was charged this week with online sexual communications with a juvenile.

On April 8 at noon, state troopers received a report regarding a juvenile who had received inappropriate messages. They found that Austin Hoyt (28), had sent messages of a sexual nature to the juvenile via Snapchat. As a result of the investigation, Hoyt is scheduled appear in Vermont Superior Court on May 29, 2025.

L&Ls with a child – A St. Albans man has been jailed for lack of $15,000 bail following an arrest for lewd and lascivious conduct with a child. 

On May 13, State Police received the report of a lewd and lascivious conduct with a child incident in Berkshire. Police say the investigation revealed that during 2024 and 2025 James Rivera-Martinez committed three  counts of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct with a Child.

Rivera-Martinez was taken into custody May 21 without incident and transported to the St. Albans State Police Barracks for processing. He then appeared before the Franklin County Superior Court in order to face the forementioned charges. Following the arraignment, he was transported to Northwest Correctional Center and lodged for lack of $15,000.00 bail.

Another L&L – Also, a Craftsbury man has been charged with two counts of L&L with a child. On May 15, state police investigated Andrew Calderwood (32) after receiving a report concerning lewd and lascivious behavior involving multiple juveniles. Investigation revealed that on May 10, Calderwood committed the offenses of 2 counts of Lewd and Lascivious with a Child. On May 19, he was taken into custody without incident and processed at the VSP State Police Derby Barracks. At the conclusion of processing Calderwood was transported to Northeast Correctional Complex and lodged for lack of $10,000 bail.

Threatens rehab workers with hammer – Shortly after 6 PM on May 22, state troopers arrived on scene at the St. Johnsbury Health & Rehab building and were informed that Ce’Keria Mitchell (19) had threatened to assault multiple employees with a hammer. Troopers were unable to locate Mitchell at the scene. Investigation revealed that Mitchell had committed the offenses of Aggravated Assault (x2), Criminal Threatening (x2), and Disorderly Conduct.

Troopers quickly located Mitchell in the surrounding area. She was issued a citation to appear in court this afternoon.