Proctor man to be arraigned on attempted murder charge
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John M. Walters, 51, of Proctor is expected to be arraigned Tuesday on a charge of attempted second-degree murder. |
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By Brent Curtis Herald Staff - Published: December 2, 2008
State Police say a Proctor man hospitalized in New Hampshire is expected to be in Rutland District Court today to face a charge of attempted second-degree murder for allegedly shooting at a Vermont State Police sergeant last month.
However, while officials in Vermont said they expect John M. Walters to appear in court today, the Grafton, N.H., sheriff who has custody of Walters said Monday that the Proctor man still needed clearance to leave the hospital from doctors at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
Walters has been at the hospital in Lebanon, N.H., where he was taken after the shootout Nov. 19. The 51-year-old Walters is facing an attempted murder charge for allegedly shooting at Sgt. Thomas Mozzer, who was not injured, according to court records.
Sgt. Tara Thomas, State Police spokeswoman, said she was told Walters, who received multiple gunshot injuries during the shootout, is well enough to appear in court for his arraignment. However, she said the Proctor man's injuries were still serious enough to prompt officials to take Walters to a hospital in Vermont, and not the Rutland jail, after the court hearing.
Walters last week agreed to waive extradition and return to Vermont. Bail was set at $1 million, officials said.
Walters had been listed in serious condition at the New Hampshire hospital since the day after the shootout. His condition has since improved to satisfactory, a hospital spokesman said last week.
But Grafton Sheriff Doug Dutile said Walters remained at the hospital Monday night and wouldn't be released to Rutland County Sheriff's deputies until doctors deemed he was healthy enough to make the trip to Vermont.
"I don't know what's going to happen. We're working on it as we speak," Dutile said. "We're trying to reach someone at the hospital."
Rutland County Sheriff Stephen Benard said Monday night that he expected officers with his department to travel to New Hampshire today and return Walters to Vermont for the court hearing.
If convicted of the attempted second-degree murder charge Walters faces up to life in prison.