Press Releases

Former State Police Officer Convicted Of Assault Charges

CONTACT: Matthew I. Levine, Assistant Attorney General, (802) 828-5512

February 20, 2013

Attorney General William H. Sorrell announced that Eric J. Howley, of Wilmington, Vermont, was convicted on February 19, 12013, on charges of two counts of Simple Assault at the Vermont Superior Court, Criminal Division, in Brattleboro, Vermont. The convictions are both misdemeanors. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Mr. Howley was sentenced to concurrent terms of 6 to 12 months on each count, all suspended on probation. Special conditions of probation imposed include mental health counseling, that he not seek or accept employment as a police officer, law enforcement officer, security guard, or volunteer for such work, and that he not have contact with the victims. Mr. Howley was formerly a Trooper with the Vermont State Police, stationed in Brattleboro. The charges in this case alleged that Mr. Howley recklessly caused bodily injury to Anton Pike and Mark Ellison while on duty on April 8, 2012. The charges were based on an investigation conducted initially by the Wilmington Police Department, and subsequently by the Vermont State Police.