A former Vermont state trooper accused of assaulting two men he believed had stolen his canoe has applied for unspecified disability benefits from the state and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
A hearing on Eric Howley’s case this week mentioned the disability request. Assistant Attorney General Matthew Levine said if the 40-year-old Howley is found eligible for disability payments, it could have a bearing on the prosecution of his case.
Howley resigned in May. He’s accused of two counts of simple assault.
Court papers charge he assaulted two men at a Wilmington lake in April. They were in a canoe Howley said was stolen from him.