On June 9, at 4:51 a.m., The Vermont State Police received a report of a domestic assault taking place in a residence on School Street in the town of Plainfield. Troopers responded to the scene and met with the victim. Subsequent investigation led to the discovery that Moss Palmer, of Olympia, Wash., had assaulted the complainant causing injury. Palmer was later issued a citation to appear in court on Monday, June 12, and released.
On May 3, the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal investigation began an investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse by Benjamin Hopkins, of Plainfield. During the course of the investigation, the State Police conducted several interviews and established an additional victim. Both victims provided statements and alleged sexual assault by Hopkins. One of the victims was a minor at the time of the incident. Following both incidents, Hopkins threatened physical injury to both victims involved.
Prior to May 3, Hopkins moved to Iowa. He has since been arrested by Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office and is currently incarcerated under the charges of enticing a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor and disseminating indecent material to a minor. With the collaboration of law enforcement partners in Iowa, the Vermont State Police and the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office, law enforcement authorities have applied for an arrest warrant with extradition for Hopkins to answer to the above charges in Vermont. An arrest warrant was subsequently granted by the Honorable Judge of the Washington Superior Court in the amount of $50,000 for the offenses of Sexual assault X2, Lewd and lascivious conduct with a child and Disturbing the peace by use of telephone or other electronic communications X2.
The State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation at the Berlin Barracks is requesting anyone with further information or potential victims of Hopkins to contact Det. Sgt. Amber Keener at (802) 229-9191 or leave anonymous information at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
On Friday, June 9, the Vermont State Police were searching for a 13-year-old male who was reported missing from his home on June 8. David Hill III, of Marshfield, had left his residence on foot at approximately 12:30 p.m. On Saturday afternoon, June 10, Hill was located deceased in Marshfield. The death is not considered suspicious. The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available.
