Local & Regional Briefs: Woman Wanted In Theft Of Car Found in River

Woman Wanted In Theft Of Car Found in River

Claremont — Police are searching for a 30-year-old Claremont woman who is accused of stealing a car that was later found submerged in the Connecticut River.

Erica Belknap-Morris faces felony charges of theft of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief and theft of services, according to a Claremont police news release. She also is charged with fraudulent use of a credit card and contempt of court, two misdemeanors.

The vehicle, a 2010 Acura TL sedan, was discovered underwater at the boat landing on Ferry Landing Road in Claremont on Sept. 15.

“It was unknown how long the vehicle had been in the water or whether there were people inside of it,” police said in the release. “Dive personnel were dispatched to the scene and performed a search of the area. They determined that there were no people inside of the car.”

The car was removed by a towing service with the assistance of divers. Following an investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Belknap-Morris; her whereabouts are unknown, police said.

Newport Man Charged With Sexual Assault

Newport — A 51-year-old Newport man has been indicted on 17 felony charges that allege he sexually assaulted two girls under the age of 12 in the 1980s and 1990s.

Alan Wirkkala faces 10 counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, six counts of felonious sexual assault and one count of attempted aggravated felonious sexual assault, according to Sullivan County indictments.

Wirkkala became the subject of a Claremont police investigation six months ago after a victim came forward about the alleged abuse, Claremont police said in news release last week.

The indictments said that Wirkkala allegedly had more than one victim; there are two victims outlined in the indictments.

The indictments allege that Wirkkala engaged in sexual contact with the girls between 1985 and 1991.

He is scheduled to be arraigned in on Oct. 3 in Sullivan Superior Court in Newport.

Vt. to Hold Privacy Hearing In White River Junction

White River Junction — Officials will hold a second hearing on Vermonters’ privacy rights today in White River Junction.

The hearing is part of a legislative mandate to determine whether additional privacy protections for Vermont residents are warranted, according to a news release from the state Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Public Service, which are the agencies hosting the hearing.

Some of the topics to be considered are whether Vermont should designate a chief privacy officer, whether there are questions about citizen data held by the state and whether there are laws or regulations that could be put in place to encourage growth of privacy-oriented technology companies, the release said.

The hearing will be held from 1-4 p.m. at the state Department of Health offices located at 118 Prospect St. in White River Junction. An initial hearing was held in August in Burlington.

More information can be found at: http://ago.vermont.gov/privacy-working-group.

— Staff Reports