A hunter who allegedly shot and injured a Fairfax man in Huntington earlier this month pleaded not guilty in Vermont Superior Court and was released with conditions on Thursday.
Alex Gaudette, 25, of Bolton was arraigned Thursday morning in Burlington on a felony charge of negligent use of a gun and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment stemming from a Sept. 10 incident that injured James Cameron, 35, of Fairfax, according to court documents.
Gaudette pleaded not guilty and Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Novotny released him with conditions that he not buy, have or use any firearms or weapons, not have contact with the victim, and not hunt in the state of Vermont while the case is pending. Another court date has not been set yet, according to Chittenden County Deputy State’s Attorney Kelton Olney.
A detective from the Fish & Wildlife Department who investigated the incident had also recommended a felony aggravated assault charge. The state’s attorney’s office opted not to pursue that charge “because the conduct is covered by the other felony charge,” Olney said.
If convicted of negligent use of a gun, Gaudette could face up to five years of jail time, fines up to $1,000 or both. An additional conviction of reckless endangerment could add up to another year of jail time and up to $1,000 in fines, according to court documents.
The incident occurred on private land in Huntington earlier this month. The victim was walking to a tree stand in a wooded area off Main Road when he was struck in the abdomen by a single gunshot fired by Gaudette who said he mistook the victim for a bear. Game wardens investigated the incident.
Cameron was struck in the lower portion of his left abdomen and taken to University of Vermont Medical Center where he remained yesterday in stable condition.
— Auditi Guha
