BRATTLEBORO — A 50-year-old man is being held without bail after he was charged with assaulting and robbing an elderly man in Jamaica and stealing a vehicle from a home in Dummerston.
Jason R. Smith has been charged with assault and robbery, criminal threatening, operating a vehicle without the owner's consent, and giving false information to police following an investigation that began on June 14 at just before noon when troopers were dispatched to a home on Route 100 in Jamaica.
There, they were told by the alleged victim that he knew the suspect and had loaned him $120 in the past. He said the man, who was later identified as Smith, came by his house on Route 30 and told the older man he had a check for $120 for him. Smith allegedly then pushed the man down into a chair and twisted his arms, taking $40 from him.
Smith, who the VSP characterized as "transient," also allegedly told the man he would kill him if he called the police.
Smith has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1993, including several convictions for burglary, writing bad checks, grand larceny, giving false information to police, and identity theft. The state has notified the court it plans to pursue a habitual offender enhancement, which could significantly increase Smith's sentence if he is found guilty of the new charges.
According to an affidavit filed in Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division, troopers learned Smith had recently been released from jail and had been asking around for money.
Later on June 14, a vehicle matching the description of the one Smith left in was located out of service on Canal Street in Brattleboro. The driver told troopers the battery had died after she had driven Smith to Jamaica earlier in the day to make a visit to a family member. When they returned to Brattleboro, the battery quit and Smith had left to find jumper cables, she said, but he didn't come back. The passengers in the vehicle were cited with possession of illegal drugs.
Using surveillance footage, troopers identified Smith exiting the vehicle, but Smith was no where to be found.
On June 15, the Vermont State Police received a report of a man on Route 5 asking for a ride to Santa's Land. Troopers were unable to locate the man.
Later that day, at just before 9 p.m., troopers received a report of a stolen vehicle in Dummerston, which was located the next day at the intersection of Oak Street and Howard Street in Brattleboro.
Smith, who gave police a false name, was located nearby and then troopers took him into custody. He was arraigned and ordered held without bail. His next court date has not yet been set.
