By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Windsor County Criminal Court records show that a Springfield man jailed in lieu of a $15,000 cash or surety bail has had a series of brushes with the law that includes felony larceny and domestic violence, as well as various misdemeanor charges.
Nathan Heist, 29, was arrested on March 13 by Springfield Police for an active arrest warrant when he was located at Ollie’s bargain outlet on Chester Road. Instead of being released on lower bails like he had after past arrests, Heist was ordered to be held at the Southern State Correctional Facility in lieu of the bail.
Windsor County Criminal Court replied to a request for an affidavit and the clerk said there were four dockets to choose from.
The first dates back to Aug. 23, 2024, when Heist was charged with misdemeanor retail theft. According to the affidavit, the manager of the Springfield Food Co-Op on Main Street called the Springfield Police Department to report shoplifting. When the officer arrived, the manager said the subject who she identified as Heist had already fled on a bicycle.
The manager told police that Heist put store merchandise down his pants, and she confronted him, but Heist allegedly denied taking anything. Heist was asked to leave the store, which he obliged, and did not pay for items before leaving. Employees reviewed security video that showed Heist stealing pudding and putting it down his pants. The officer viewed the screenshot images and identified Heist from previous encounters.
The officer made contact with Heist later, who was wearing baggy pants and on a bicycle as the grocery store manager previously described. Heist allegedly admitted to stealing the pudding, which was captured on body cam. He was issued a citation for retail theft and released on the scene. He allegedly stole $27.45, or five pudding packs at $5.49 each.
On Sept. 11, 2024, Heist was arrested for misdemeanor trespassing at Shaw’s Supermarket on Springfield Plaza Road to complain that Heist was in the store violating a Notice Against Trespass (NAT), which was issued on Aug. 23 and remains in effect for a year unless rescinded.
Officers spoke with store employees who said they saw Heist in the store and asked if he was going to pay for the items in his backpack. He said he didn’t take anything, refused to let her look, and then he shoved past her to get out of the store. Police viewed surveillance video of the incident and said that while it did not appear to be a violent interaction, he did make physical contact with the employee as he left and could have easily gone another way.
Police located Heist at 78 Valley Street on Nov. 26 after spending several weeks looking for him and even making contact with his brother. He was issued a citation to appear in court on Jan. 14.
On Nov. 22, 2024, Heist was arrested for misdemeanor unlawful trespassing and misdemeanor retail theft of less than $250. The affidavit states that an employee at Shaw’s called the police to report Heist violating an active trespass notice as he was in the store. Police found him on his bicycle near Factory Street and issued him a citation to appear in court on Jan. 14. Heist admitted he was at Shaw’s but didn’t think the trespassing order was still active, and he also told the officer that he was in the store when he was approached by an employee who thought he was stealing ice cream.
An employee told police that she saw Heist put two Ben and Jerry’s ice cream containers in his pockets, and she confronted him and told him to remove them. She said Heist gave the containers back and left the supermarket.
Officers found that there was, indeed, an open trespassing notice that was signed by Heist on Aug. 23, 2024.
Heist, who was convicted on a domestic violence charge in 2018 as well as a violation of an abuse order in 2024, also had a March 11 arraignment on a pair of felony charges including larceny and domestic violence. The larceny charge has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $500 fine, and domestic violence with a prior conviction carries a possible penalty of five years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $10,000.
In this instance, on Jan. 13 officers spoke to a female who he was formerly in a relationship with, who said Heist entered her apartment without warning. He reportedly asked her for money so he could go to the “clinic” but she declined to not support his drug addiction. Heist allegedly took her purse and went toward the door, and the female blocked the exit resulting in a struggle. Heist allegedly scratched Burke on the chest, but regained possession of the purse that was valued at about $90.
On Jan. 14 officers found Heist, who denied the incident, and was issued a citation to appear Vermont Superior Court, Windsor Criminal Division on March 11 for the two felony charges.
