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Mark Johnson, 53, of Alburgh, pleaded not guilty to charges he sprayed liquid manure on a marked U.S. Customs and Border Protection car after confronting an agent about why he wasn't doing more to arrest people in the country illegally.
He entered the plea against charges of disorderly conduct and simple assault of a law enforcement officer.
Johnson said his livelihood was hurt by people working on Vermont farms who could be in the country illegally. He said he asked the agent why he wasn't doing more to arrest people working in the U.S. illegally. However, he maintained that he did not know a patrol car was nearby when he turned on his manure spreader.
Border Patrol agent Robert Rocheleau said in an affidavit that Johnson sprayed his car after a profanity-laced tirade in Alburgh, just south of the Canadian border, after complaining the border patrol about the alleged inefficiency of their work in arresting illegal immigration.
Customs and Border Protection says the job of the border patrol is to keep people from entering the country illegally. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is responsible for enforcing immigration law inside the country.
"At first, a 'wave of manure' missed the car by a couple of feet. However, while passing by my vehicle Mr. Johnson then engaged the PTO shaft to his trailer and covered my vehicle in cow manure," Rocheleau's affidavit said.
Rocheleau drove to a nearby port of entry where he took photographs of his car and reported the incident to his supervisor. He then washed his car and reported what had happened to the Grand Isle County sheriff's department.
He entered the plea against charges of disorderly conduct and simple assault of a law enforcement officer.
Johnson said his livelihood was hurt by people working on Vermont farms who could be in the country illegally. He said he asked the agent why he wasn't doing more to arrest people working in the U.S. illegally. However, he maintained that he did not know a patrol car was nearby when he turned on his manure spreader.
"At first, a 'wave of manure' missed the car by a couple of feet. However, while passing by my vehicle Mr. Johnson then engaged the PTO shaft to his trailer and covered my vehicle in cow manure," Rocheleau's affidavit said.
Rocheleau drove to a nearby port of entry where he took photographs of his car and reported the incident to his supervisor. He then washed his car and reported what had happened to the Grand Isle County sheriff's department.
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