By Michael Bielawski
An irate customer of a snow plow operator allegedly threatened to kill a man – potentially via a drone – and he has been identified and brought before a judge.
According to the Caledonian-Record, Cornell Letourneau, 75, of Westfield had been a snowplow customer of Eric Kennison’s Westfield-based snowplowing business, but the short-staffed Kennison could no longer plow the Letourneau driveway.
Cornell Letourneau, 75 from Westfield, pleaded “not guilty” to making criminal threats, which is a misdemeanor charge. This was on Tuesday in Orleans Superior Court, where an “Extreme Risk Protection Order” was issued against him.
The State Police report states they “received a report of a threatening letter that was received in the mail. It was learned that the letter was directed towards Eric Kennison (46) and Jessica Kennison (42). Upon further review of the letter, it was also determined the threats were of death and or serious bodily injury.”
The report continues, “Investigation revealed Cornell Letourneau (75) to be the main person of interest. Upon speaking with Letourneau, probable cause was developed to believe he had created and sent the letter. Due to the nature of the threats, an Extreme Risk Protection Order was applied for and granted by a Supreme Court Judge.”
As reported by The Caledonian Record, it appears that a drone could have been a potential weapon of choice. Their report states, “The letter writer notes that a sniper rifle would probably not be the weapon of choice ‘as now there are drones that are just as accurate.’”
The report goes into details including the threat that came with a sympathy card that allegedly states “With Deepest Sympathy on the loss of your husband.”
The threat goes into detail regarding the timeframe that the killing would take place, and that it would take place before Christmas. The letter was immediately deemed a serious threat by the State Police.
According to the affidavit by Trooper Nathan Handy, the victim expressed “extreme discomfort and anxiety”.
It further stated that Letourneau had initially denied sending the threat but ultimately admitted it was his letter. Letourneau further stated that he had never intended to follow through with the threat.
According to the Caledonian’s report, “‘Cornell advised he wrote it because he felt that Eric felt that he was above the law and better than everyone else,’ stated Trooper Handy.”
The report notes that Judge Rory Thibeault was the judge over this case and that Letourneau’s arraignment on Tuesday included that Letourneau “have no contact with the Kennisons” and “Letourneau also must not have any firearms while the case is pending.”
Are drones a threat?
No mugshot was provided in the report.
According to the Joint Air Power Competence Centre, drones are entering a new age of warfare.
“The world has entered the ‘second drone age’. Defined by the global proliferation of military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and weaponised commercial drones, this new era of drone warfare has seen, and will continue to see, both state and non-state actors competing for power in the skies above (and beyond) designated zones of conflict. Hostile actors, with threatening remotely operated air power components, now vie for command of the air against NATO and allied forces.”
The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle