BENNINGTON – A former Pownal resident who was convicted in 2000 for aggravated sexual assault is facing new charges after investigators said they believed he was trying to pressure the victim into not testifying against him again.

Harold P. Haner Sr., 41, was sentenced to serve 25 to 30 years in prison in 2000 after being convicted of sexual assault against an 11-year-old girl. Police said Haner assaulted the girl in March 1999 while she was asleep in Haner's home.

On Tuesday, he was arraigned on three felony charges, two counts of obstructing justice and one count of procuring a person to commit perjury. Each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

In an affidavit, investigator Gary Briggs said the girl who Haner was convicted of sexually assaulting, gave the Bennington County State's Attorney's office a "large number of letters" on July 9. Briggs said the "common theme" in the letters was Haner asking the girl not to testify.

Haner is appealing his conviction in Superior Court by claiming his lawyer was "ineffective."

Haner, who is being held in the Springfield prison with a minimum release date of 2014, pleaded not guilty to the new charges.