MALCOLM ROY PLEADS GUILTY TO SHOOTING NEAR BORDER

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Malcolm Roy, 53, a Canadian citizen who until recently lived in Beecher Falls, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to a charge that he assaulted a federal officer with a firearm. Chief U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III continued Roy's release on conditions pending sentencing, which has been scheduled for December 17.

According to court papers, Roy was arrested by the Vermont State Police in the early morning hours of March 15, 2007 after an armed confrontation with troopers and Border Patrol agents. In the evening of March 14, the State Police received telephone calls from Roy's estranged wife and from a friend, who both reported that Roy was despondent and had threatened to commit suicide.

Troopers and two Border Patrol agents responded to Roy's residence in Beecher Falls. The officers deployed some 30 yards from the house. When the officers attempted to communicate with Roy, he became agitated and shouted obscenities from an upstairs window. After a Border Patrol agent illuminated Roy with a flashlight, he fired one shot (which did not hit anyone) and warned he would shoot the next person he saw. Roy also reported that he had doused the house with gasoline and would set the structure on fire if anyone approached too closely.

After reinforcements were called in, officers retreated a greater distance from Roy's house. About one and one-half hours into the standoff, Roy fired a second shot, which also hit no one.

The confrontation ended when the police fired a chemical agent into the house and physically subdued Roy.

Roy faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. His actual sentence will be determined with reference to federal sentencing guidelines.

This case was investigated by the Vermont State Police and the Burlington office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Roy is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Elizabeth Mann. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.

CONTACT:

Thomas Spina Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney
tel.(518) 431-0247

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