Vermont Man Charged With Mailing Violent Threats

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that William Stanley, 53, of Vermont, was arraigned today on a two count indictment alleging that in August of 2013, he mailed a letter containing threats to kill a deputy state’s attorney and to destroy the Bennington County Courthouse by fire or explosives.

According to court records and proceedings, Stanley is currently serving a 25 year to life sentence on a Vermont state conviction. He entered a not guilty plea to the pending federal charges before the Hon. John M. Conroy, United States Magistrate Judge, and was ordered detained in federal custody until the conclusion of proceedings in this case. 

If convicted, Stanley faces up to five years in prison for the threat to the deputy state’s attorney and up to ten years in prison for the threat to destroy the courthouse. An indictment is merely an allegation and Stanley remains innocent until proven guilty.

Acting United States Attorney Eugenia A.P. Cowles commended the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Vermont State Police in investigating this matter. “The federal government takes any threat against state prosecutors and the state judiciary extremely seriously,” Cowles stated.

Stanley is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Elizabeth Quinn.