By Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First

This report first appeared in the News & Citizen

A Morristown man, who authorities say stalked and threatened a longtime police officer, has pleaded not guilty in federal court in Burlington to a charge of illegal possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.

Jordon M. Phelps, 34, of 148 Brooklyn Street had a loaded Marlin 30-30 caliber rifle seized from his residence on March 13, one day after he made at least four profanity-filled threatening phone calls over two hours to Morristown Police, records show. The calls were recorded on the town’s emergency phone line.

The phone threats were directed at Morristown Detective Lt. Todd Baxter. Baxter came out of retirement last year to help Morristown Police part-time by conducting major criminal investigations. He had retired from the Vermont State Police in November 2022 after a distinguished career of more than 21 years, including serving a stint as a lieutenant with the Major Crime Squad.

Phelps initially denied state charges in Vermont Superior Court in Hyde Park for stalking and criminal threatening on March 11. He also pleaded not guilty to an unrelated simple assault charge stemming from a fight at the Morristown Beverage on Aug. 31, records show.

A state judge released Phelps on March 15 on conditions from Vermont Superior Court, which has liberal bail laws.

The FBI, working with local police officials, swore out a criminal complaint so Phelps could be detained on the federal charge, which provides for stiff bail conditions.

Authorities picked up Phelps at the residence he shares with his grandfather. Phelps appeared briefly for his initial federal court hearing before Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on March 27.

During a detention hearing two days later Doyle, after hearing legal arguments, ordered Phelps held as a danger to the community. Doyle cited Phelps past criminal history, the weight of the evidence in the gun case, his history of violence and use of weapons, his lack of stable employment and his use of drugs and alcohol.

Doyle also noted Phelps has at least 5 previous cases of violating terms of probation imposed for state convictions.

Baxter obtained an anti-stalking order against Phelps from a state court ordering him to stay away from the officer, his home, and work.

Law enforcement and Baxter became very concerned when Phelps reportedly said he planned to go to the officer’s private residence in Lamoille County.

“I know exactly right where he lives and I’ll show up on his doorstep,” Phelps said to the emergency dispatcher, according to court records. “I don’t think he wants that … tell Todd I’ll be showing up on his door step cause I know right where he lives.”

Stowe Police officers were asked to conduct an independent investigation into the stalking incident to avoid a conflict of interest. Stowe Detective Daniel Wierzbicki later obtained a search warrant from a state judge for the Phelps residence, records show.

The 30-30 rifle was found in an open safe in the bedroom that Phelps uses at the Brooklyn Street residence, court records show. There were five rounds loaded in the rifle, Wierzbicki said.

Also seized was an assault-style rifle that actually was an airsoft rifle – a replica that shoots pellets or BBs, the FBI said. Two cellphones also were seized.

Phelps’ grandfather reported his grandson is a user of cocaine and crack, court records show. Three attempts to get Phelps into drug treatment have been unsuccessful the grandfather reported, court records note.

Between his initial appearance in federal court and his detention hearing, a federal grand jury found there was probable cause to indict him on the gun charge.

Phelps, who denied the felony gun charge in federal court on Friday, acknowledged he had been treated for narcotic addiction when he was younger.

Phelps initially said “guilty” when first asked for his plea, but defense lawyer Chander Matson of Stowe said he wanted a “not” added to the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig reported there was considerable evidence, including the recorded calls, multiple search warrants, photos and a criminal history report. He also noted there were messages from a cellphone extract.

Stendig, in his motions to detain, wrote that Phelps has at least eight misdemeanor convictions and noted in one of the times he was placed on probation, his release was revoked entirely.

Matson asked for 60 days to investigate the case and to file pre-trial motions, including for possible suppression of evidence. Doyle set a May 28 deadline.