By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
ATHENS, Vt. — An alleged arsonist who has been on probation since 2022 has pleaded “not guilty” to an amended set of 21 charges after he allegedly torched his ex-girlfriend’s mobile home after stalking her repeatedly.
Benjamin E. Stocker, 33, of Springfield, Vermont, allegedly stalked his ex-girlfriend physically and also sent threatening texts and phone calls for months before burning down her mobile home in Athens on March 29. He was arrested at his home that day and held on $50,000 bail, which was ultimately changed to no bail as officials felt he was dangerous to the victim and others.
“Probation and Parole has no way of guaranteeing the safety of (victim’s name redacted),” the case summary stated. “Benjamin Stocker also stated ‘allegedly stated that he would bring a firearm to probation if he suspected they were going to violate him.’”
Deputy Attorney Dana Nevins is representing the state and spoke with the Eagle Times stressing the importance of Stocker being held pending trial.
“His behavior is obviously very concerning which is why we asked that he be held pending trial,” Nevins said.
On April 28, 2022, Benjamin Stocker, 33, was placed on probation for a felony unlawful mischief charge, according to records provided by the Vermont Superior Court – Windham Division. He was given a minimum sentence of six months and a maximum of five years with the term expiring April 29, 2025.
However, on March 6, 2024, Stocker was issued a new probation order when he was found in violation. On Sept. 11, 2024, he was issued conditions of release on his Violation of Probation order. One of the conditions was to not contact his ex-girlfriend, who he allegedly stalked before setting fire to her home. She was not injured, and no injuries were reported by authorities.
According to a report by Probation Officer Ryan Sharp, on March 11 he received an anonymous call who said Stocker had been in contact with the victim. He referred to an incident that could be seen on surveillance footage at a market in Bellows Falls. Bellows Falls Police worked with the probation office in going over footage and viewed Stocker allegedly following his ex-girlfriend into parking lot of the Penguin Market on Rockingham Street.
The video shows the victim quickly walking into the store holding her cell phone, and Stocker following shortly after. Days before, Fire Chief Shaun McGinnis reported seeing the victim “hurriedly exit the parking lot,” and then witnessed a Ford Explorer allegedly driven by Stocker. McGinnis asked Stocker if he was OK after seeing him make an abrupt turn into a doctor’s office, and Stocker said he was “waiting for someone.” He was seen in the video “aggressively circling the area” to follow the victim, according to the affidavit.
On March 28, Vermont State Police responded to a report by Stocker’s ex-girlfriend that he had blocked the roadway with his vehicle and damaged her car by throwing a beer bottle at it. Stocker said this was a regular occasion, and he had damaged her vehicle and belongings multiple times in the past.
Then on the early morning of March 29, the alleged arson of the victim’s home on Valley Cemetery Road in Athens took place. Video footage shows Stocker going to the home that morning and leaving just minutes before an orange glow can be seen coming from the home. The home burned down with multiple fire departments and police personnel on-site to help put out the blaze.
Police then interviewed the victim and heard nine threatening voicemails from Stocker, one of which had a photograph of a stolen Ruger 9 mm handgun that included the message “time to do it.” One of his conditions was to not be in possession of a firearm.
Other texts and voicemails included threats of harming or killing her ex-husband and himself, and other various explicit threats toward the victim.
While talking with the victim, Trocki saw her phone ring multiple times and she identified the number as a Voice-Over IP telephone number Stocker created, which she said was customary for him to do because she blocks numbers.
A search warrant was granted on March 29 for his residence on 950 Randall Hill Road, and during the search the stolen gun and a cell phone was seized, and Stocker was arrested. Stocker’s mother lives at the residence also and was contacted by police asking for his whereabouts. She told them he was there, and she had hidden the firearm.
Police also spoke with the victim’s son who said that Stocker would often follow his mother and sibling, causing them all fear. Stocker allegedly would show up near his school and wait until he would drive home and then follow him closely. On March 3, the victim said Stocker followed her so closely he ended up rear-ending her while he was texting and calling her repeatedly.
Court records show that Stocker was on supervision in Vermont for breaking the windshield of a past ex-boyfriend of the victim. He was also arrested by N.H. State Police in 2023 for simple assault and on supervision in New Hampshire for allegedly showing up to another woman’s residence drunk and hitting her over the head with backpack, the case summary stated.
There were initially 13 charges going into the arraignment on Wednesday and this was increased to 21. A first-degree domestic assault charge had no probable cause, but a second-degree charge was added, which is also a felony. The restructuring was due to the lengthy period of time the charges occurred, Nevins explained.
Stocker is charged with the following felonies: first degree arson; second degree domestic assault; aggravated stalking; and unlawful mischief.
First degree arson has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $2,000 fine. Second degree domestic assault has a penalty of up to five years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines. The stalking and unlawful mischief charges have a penalty of up to five years in prison, and/or respective fines of $25,000 and $5,000.
Misdemeanor charges include three counts of violation of abuse prevention order; reckless endangerment; disturbing the peace by phone; unlawful mischief; reckless endangerment; vehicle operation – careless or negligent; and multiple violations of conditions of release. These all carry maximum penalties of three months to a year in prison, and various fines.
Stocker also had a Violation of Probation (VOP) Merits Hearing, which was originally scheduled for April 16 from the stalking violation but moved to Wednesday.
A pre-trial conference has been set for April 24 in the Vermont Superior Court – Windham Criminal Division.
