By Mike Donoghue
Vermont News First
BURLINGTON — A Windham County convicted felon has been charged by federal authorities after they say they found three firearms in his home during a raid Tuesday.
Terry “T.J.” Russ Jr., 42, of Grafton appeared briefly in U.S. District Court in Burlington on Wednesday.
Defense lawyer Robert S. Behrens did not contest a detention motion that his client was a danger to the community and a risk to flee. Behrens did leave the door open to return to court for further consideration.
Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle set a probable cause hearing for Nov. 6 unless an indictment is obtained.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said their agents and the Vermont State Police found the three guns during a court-ordered search at the home in Grafton near the Chester town line.
A Taurus 9-mm pistol, a Ruger .45 caliber pistol and a Colt .45 caliber pistol were recovered from his upstairs bedroom, according to court records.
The ATF said Russ is prohibited from possessing firearms because of his criminal record, which includes felony convictions in Cheshire County (N.H.) for possession of a controlled drug on June 8, 2023 and in Windham County for a burglary on Oct, 28, 2014.
Russ was sentenced to 2 ½ to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to a Guilford burglary that involved the theft of several firearms. The former Brattleboro man was captured on security video during the break-in.
The homeowner, Timothy White, upon viewing the video with state police, uttered “That’s T.J,” records show. White was aware of Russ through a girlfriend, and the suspect was well-known to police, records show.
The lengthy prison term in 2014 was due in part to the theft of guns and the defendant’s criminal record, a Windham County prosecutor said at the time. His past convictions included trespassing, credit card fraud, disorderly conduct, assault, obstructing justice, violating conditions of release, driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license, the Brattleboro Reformer reported at the time.
Russ reported five or six rifles, two handguns and a crossbow were among the items stolen from the home, the Reformer said. They had not been recovered by the time of the sentencing.
Russ later identified his two companions in the break-in on Autumn Hill Drive, state police said.
During the raid this week, Russ, admitted he was a convicted felon, but told the ATF there were no guns or drugs in his house, court records show.
The search, which found the three guns, had been authorized Oct. 18 by retired Magistrate Judge Jerome J. Niedermeier, who was filling in last week.
As part of the investigation, one witness reported that he lived at the house off and on since June and that Russ would pay him with drugs or cash for work done on the property, court record show.
The witness also reported that about 10 people were coming and going in and out of the residence and meeting with Russ in his bedroom on several occasions during that time, records show. They also noted Russ was spotted shooting a firearm in the backyard more than a year earlier