A former deputy with the Caledonia County Sheriff’s Department has been permanently banned from working in law enforcement in Vermont, nearly two years after he pleaded guilty to charges related to soliciting sex and nude photos from women he encountered while on duty.
The Vermont Criminal Justice Council and Stephen Bunnell had reached an agreement last month calling for his prohibition of working as a police officer in the state. The council adopted the stipulation during its meeting on Tuesday, according to William Sorrell, the council’s chair.
Sorrell said there were no dissenting votes from council members.
“Respondent (Bunnell) enters no further admissions here, but to resolve this matter without further time, expense, and uncertainty Respondent has concluded that this agreement is acceptable and in the best interest of the parties,” the agreement stated.
Bunnell pleaded guilty in March 2022 in Caledonia County Superior criminal court in St. Johnsbury to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct by phone and prohibited conduct.
The plea deal called for a $100 fine on the disorderly conduct charge and a two-year deferred sentence on the prohibited conduct charge.
The prohibited conduct charge stated that Bunnell offered money to a woman in exchange for nude photos. The disorderly charge stated that Bunnell repeatedly contacted a different woman “to harass” her into providing him with nude photos.
As part of the plea agreement, two other charges of committing prohibited acts were dismissed.
Windham County State’s Attorney Tracy Shriver prosecuted the case to avoid a conflict with the Caledonia County State’s Attorney’s Office in handling the matter.
Bunnell, a former captain with the sheriff’s department, resigned from the law enforcement agency in October 2020 while the investigation into his actions was ongoing, according to Vermont Criminal Justice Council documents.
Bunnell signed the agreement reached with the council. No attorney was listed in the document as having represented him.
A message left Tuesday afternoon at a phone number listed in an online directory for Bunnell was not immediately returned.
The permanent revocation of Bunnell’s certification in Vermont will be added to national law enforcement databases. He will also have to provide a copy of the consent order in this case to “any law enforcement agency to which he makes application for employment” in “any location or jurisdiction where he may apply,” according to council records.
