A parent of a student at the Canaan Schools in Vermont has been charged with harassment and issued “an Extreme Risk Protection Order, prohibiting [the accused man] from purchasing or possessing a dangerous weapon for at least six months,” according to June 15 story on VTDigger.
Reports VT Digger:
Shane Gobeil threatened to “show up and kill somebody” at the Canaan Schools if his child — a student in the district — was approached by a transgender person or drag queen at school, according to a police affidavit.
Gobeil made the threat [last] Monday at a New Hampshire store in the presence of two Canaan Schools students, ages 16 and 17, and later repeated it to Vermont State Police officers, according to police.
“Don’t take what I said as a threat, take it as a promise,” Gobeil later told a responding Vermont State Police trooper, according to court documents.
The Canaan Schools, which include two separate buildings — an elementary school and a high school that share a campus — serve about 180 students. Both schools were closed Tuesday and Wednesday in response to the alleged threat.
Charged with harassment on Tuesday, Gobeil was released on conditions Wednesday following his arraignment in a New Hampshire court. In Vermont, Essex County State’s Attorney Vince Illuzzi sought and was granted an Extreme Risk Protection Order, which prohibits Gobeil from purchasing or possessing dangerous weapons for at least six months.
Though police searched Gobeil’s residence and found no weapons, he told officers he “intended to exercise his right to own firearms” and stated that he wished to purchase an AK-47 assault rifle at some point, according to court documents.
The documents state that Gobeil was previously convicted of a felony charge for second-degree assault in March 2015. Gobeil was also cited for trespassing on Canaan Schools’ property within the last week after he allegedly harassed students, parents and staff regarding mask recommendations, according to the documents.
Gobeil’s trial is scheduled for August 11 at the First Circuit District Court in Colebrook, New Hampshire, reports VTDigger, which notes the state of Vermont cannot also charge Gobeil because the threat was made in New Hampshire. The harassment charge carries a possible jail sentence of less than a year and a fine of $2,000.
Read the complete VTDigger story here.
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