A Rutland man accused last fall of threatening House Speaker Jill Krowinski has been released on more stringent conditions after police say he violated a no-stalking order.
Kyle Wolfe, 34, appeared Thursday in Rutland County Superior criminal court to face a new charge stemming from several social media posts, including one in which he “tagged” Krowinski and urged others to contact her.
Wolfe, who represented himself during the hearing, invoked his right to wait at least 24 hours before entering a plea in response to the charge of violating the order, a misdemeanor.
As a result, his arraignment was delayed until Monday, though there was a great deal of discussion Thursday about what conditions he would need to abide by until then.
Ultimately, Judge David Fenster ordered Wolfe to abide by a 24/7 curfew at his apartment and not to possess any ammunition or magazines, representing expansions of his previous conditions of release.
Prior to the judge’s decision, Rutland County Deputy State’s Attorney Ian Sullivan, appearing by video, referenced the Facebook post on Sunday in which Wolfe “tagged” Krowinski’s account, noting that Wolfe appeared to acknowledge it was a violation of the order.
“Yes, I am aware this is technically ‘illegal’ Jill,” Wolfe wrote in the comment, according to a police affidavit made public Thursday.
The no-stalking order, according to the affidavit written by Capitol Police Chief Matthew Romei, barred Wolfe from posting on social media about Krowinski or asking others to give her messages.
Wolfe was arrested and charged in October after he drove to the Statehouse, threatened Krowinski and put up a fight with Capitol police before he could be taken into custody, police have said. An unloaded muzzleloader was later found inside his vehicle.
Wolfe has pleaded not guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest stemming from the October arrest.
As part of his conditions of release issued in December, the court ordered Wolfe to stay away from Krowinski and abide by a 24/7 curfew in Rutland County. He was also barred from possessing any firearms.
In the affidavit released Thursday, Romei wrote that a “cursory survey” of Wolfe’s recent Instagram and Facebook posts “reflect him ‘checking in’” in Burlington and Swanton, indicating travel outside of Rutland County.
The affidavit filed Thursday cited other recent social media posts from Wolfe, including a video on Instagram in which Wolfe talked of contacting Capitol police to ask for his gun back “so I can stand my ground because I am not respecting Vermont State Law and I’m doing it conscientiously and that’s why firearms are needed.”
Wolfe told the judge in court that he did not object to the conditions requested by the prosecutor, except one that requires him not to leave his apartment except for legal or medical reasons.
Wolfe said he generally works on Sundays, traveling to different towns as part of his consulting business. He then provided a long list of services he provides, from advocating on criminal justice issues to teaching martial arts to youth.
“I own a business,” he told the judge. “I haven’t filed for a limited liability because I don’t have the money right now, but I’m also not charging anybody.”
Amid his travels, he stops in places where people gather, such as grocery stores, where he “passionately gives speeches,” he said.
Fenster, the judge, did not grant Wolfe’s curfew exemption request for Sunday work.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Rutland man accused of stalking House speaker released on new conditions.