Salisbury man sentenced to 78 months in prison

RUTLAND — A Salisbury man has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a stolen firearm.

Scott Clark, 41, was sentenced Aug. 21 by U.S. District Judge Mae D'Agostino to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Clark previously pleaded guilty to that charge on July 13, 2023.

According to court documents, on September 23, 2022, Clark illegally entered a motor home parked at a Salisbury campground. Once inside the motor home, Clark found and took possession of a Glock Model G23 .40 caliber pistol that belonged to the motor home owner.

A Vermont State Police trooper responding to complaints about a suspicious person trying to break into campers at the campground confronted Clark. While Clark was being questioned, he secretly removed the Glock from his person and slipped it to his girlfriend, who was standing nearby, then placed the Glock in her purse, law enforcement officials said. The trooper noticed the Glock in the girlfriend's purse and grabbed the gun.

U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigative efforts of the State Police, Middlebury Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.