GREENFIELD — The Vermont man shot by police in June 2020 during a two-state chase that began after an alleged carjacking in Vermont pleaded guilty to three charges in Franklin County Superior Court on Friday afternoon.
Daniel Williams, 34, of South Burlington, Vt., was sentenced to 33 months in the Franklin House Jail and House of Correction for reckless operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident after causing property damage. He will receive 406 days’ credit toward the sentence. After he is released, he will be subjected to two years’ probation for possessing a stolen motor vehicle.
Regarding a charge of assault by means of a dangerous weapon (in this case, a pickup truck), Williams pleaded nolo contendere, which Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne explained means the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge but admits the state has enough evidence to prosecute. This was part of a plea deal and results in no sentencing.
Gagne, who prosecuted the case, explained to Judge Douglas Wilkins that on June 5, 2020, Williams stole a blue Ford F-150 pickup in Vermont and drove south to Massachusetts, resulting in a be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) advisory. Williams allegedly evaded authorities when an attempt was made to stop him.
Gagne said Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Leslie decided to lay down a tire-deflation device near the Buckland-Shelburne line on Route 2 and stand on the side of the road near his cruiser for safety, but the situation took an unexpected turn when an uninvolved vehicle approached the device first, slamming its brakes to stop. Gagne said Williams saw this and “tried to essentially thread the needle,” veering to his right — as opposed to his left — and nearly striking Leslie, who, in fear for his life, moved out of the way and fired a single shot through the passenger window, striking Williams in one of his arms. Gagne said the trooper was unharmed.
Gagne said Williams proceeded to Greenfield on tires damaged by the deflation device. The chase ended next to the Mobil gas station across from Applebee’s on the Mohawk Trail in Greenfield. Williams was arrested, identified as the suspect Vermont police were seeking earlier in the day and taken by ambulance to a hospital.
Wilkins spoke with Williams to ensure he understands the rights he was forfeiting by pleading guilty. Williams said he suffers from anxiety disorders, opioid dependence, insomnia and seasonal depression. He was most recently employed two years ago.
Defense attorney Barry Auskern told Wilkins his client was previously arrested on unrelated charges in Vermont and deemed unfit to stand trial. Auskern said Williams was sent to The Brattleboro Retreat in Vermont and then to the Vermont Foundation of Recovery in Burlington, but this latter facility “was not really designed for somebody who presented with Mr. Williams’ mental health issues.” Auskern said Williams was “booted out within a matter of weeks,” and he was homeless and battling addiction for about a week.
“I don’t want to say that what happened was inevitable, but this was clearly a mentally ill, troubled person, who was not getting the treatment or any level of support that he really needed,” he said.
Williams told the court he once acted as a “feral wolf” but now feels much better with medication, which his attorney said the jail has properly adjusted. Williams said he was glad no one was seriously injured in the incident and said it would never happen again.
Twice during Friday’s proceedings, Auskern and Williams were granted a private room so Auskern could better explain the nolo contendere plea.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.