White River Junction
Bradley Nichols was arraigned in Windsor Superior Court on felony charges of burglary and second-degree arson and misdemeanor charges of simple assault and petty larceny.
According to an affidavit filed in the case, a woman called police around 8 p.m. Tuesday night to report that Nichols allegedly hit a 17-year-old in the face after the boy interrupted him during a conversation at a Royalton home. Nichols subsequently fled on foot and was later located at an abandoned trailer at the end of Pinney Lane.
Police allege Nichols started a fire in the trailer, which burned to the ground.
He told police he was trying to keep warm, according to the affidavit.
A homeowner on Pinney Lane subsequently went to police and said someone broke into his shed and stole items, including a torch, gas container and spray paint.
Nichols is being held at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, Vt., on $10,000 bail. He will appear next at the White River Junction courthouse on Sept. 27.
Nichols has an extensive criminal history in New Hampshire and is considered a habitual offender.
He has three prior felony convictions in Sullivan County, including a controlled drug act violation from 2007 and two felonious sexual assault convictions from 1995.
He also has several misdemeanor convictions in New Hampshire, including criminal trespassing and simple assault.
He doesn’t appear to have a prior criminal record in Vermont’s Windsor County.