TEXAS MAN CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated Raymond Gagnon, 40, of San Antonio Texas was charged today in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont with obstruction of justice. Gagnon was ordered detained pending indictment and trial by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jermone J. Niedermeier.

According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Gagnon is charged with obstructing the FBI investigation into the disappearance of Brooke Bennett, age 12, of Braintree, Vermont. The Criminal Complaint and a redacted copy of the Affidavit of FBI Special Agent Daniel Rachek is attached to this press release.

United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson cautioned that a criminal complaint is only a method of bringing charges and is not proof of guilt. He noted that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

The United States Attorney will have no further comment on this case at this time.