Man denies stealing

grandparents’ truck

A Poultney man accused of stealing his grandparents’ truck and the tools inside it answered to a pair of felony charges Thursday.

Jesse L. Trude, 19, pleaded innocent in Rutland criminal court to charges of burglary and aggravated operation of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, as well as a misdemeanor count of violating court-ordered conditions of release imposed for an unrelated criminal charge.

Vermont State Police said they arrested Trude after a three-week investigation into the theft of a 2000 Ford Ranger from a home in Poultney.

The truck, reported stolen from the home on July 10, was found Wednesday, abandoned in West Pawlet with the tools missing.

Shortly after the truck was found, police said, they interviewed Trude and subsequently arrested him.

He was ordered held on $2,500 bail, which he had not posted as of late Thursday afternoon.