by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First
A known white supremacist and gang member from New Hampshire has pleaded not guilty in federal court in Burlington to a charge of assaulting a deputy U.S. Marshal in Vermont while police tried to arrest the wanted dangerous fugitive.
Christopher Palermo, 49, of Andover, N.H. was brought into U.S. District Court long enough on Tuesday to enter his plea and to be told he will be detained pending trial.
Court records show Palermo attempted to flee and resist arrest when confronted by the U.S. Marshals Service and Vermont State Police as they executed two extraditable warrants from New Hampshire on April 24 in Groton. State and federal investigators had tracked Palermo to a house at 100 Tinkham Road when they confronted him on the front porch, state police said.
When told he was under arrest on the New Hampshire warrants, Palermo opted to run, but the foot chase did not last long, police said. Due to his size, two sets of handcuffs were used and as Palermo continued to resist, leg restraints were added for his ankles, according to federal court papers.
During the apprehension, Palermo bit veteran Deputy U.S. Marshal Carl Staley on the right bicep causing injury, court records show. A picture of the injury is included in the court affidavit outlining the assault.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt said Palermo was wanted for a New Hampshire parole violation and for failure to register as a sex offender.
Ophardt filed a motion to have Palermo detained for trial both as a risk of flight and a danger to the community.
“The defendant has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1995 that includes violent crimes and unlawful weapon possession, and numerous instances of violations of court conditions,” Ophardt said.
Assistant Public Defender H. Samuel Ansell said his client would not contest detention.
Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle set a probable cause hearing for July 7, but Ansell said his client would waive the proceeding.
Palermo also was part of another major manhunt in New Hampshire in August 2023. The week-long search ended in Wilmott, N.H., where he was arrested on a parole warrant. He was considered “armed and dangerous,” the U.S. Marshals Service in New Hampshire said at the time. Guns were located at the residence where he was found on Kearsarge Valley Road. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing any, the U.S> Marshals Service said at the time.
The Concord Monitor newspaper reported Palermo is connected to the Brother of the White Warrior (BOWW) prison gang, said Deputy U.S. Marshal Andrew Grillo of New Hampshire. Palermo is also part of an undisclosed motorcycle gang, Grillo said. The defendant openly displays Nazi and Neo-Nazi symbols on his body, such as swastikas, the Monitor reported.
Palermo, who is heavily tattooed, including across his face, also is being held on state charges in Caledonia County from the arrest in Groton.
State police said he is charged with two counts of fugitive from justice, two counts of assault on a protected professionals, resisting arrest, unlawful mischief, and impeding a public officer, Trooper Jason Danielsen said. The assaults are for biting the deputy marshal and for kicking Trooper Luke Rodzel multiple times, police said. The mischief charge stems from damage to a Vermont State Police cruiser, police said.
A spit guard, designed to stop the spraying on police and others, was put over Palermo’s head when troopers brought him into state court. Deputy State’s Attorney Tom Paul asked for $100,000 bail while extradition proceedings play out with New Hampshire. Judge Heather Gray agreed.
The court also agreed to order a mental health screening.
The Caledonian Record reported Palermo is supposed to be on parole in New Hampshire through January 2033 related to a felonious sexual assault conviction.
Court records show the defendant has at least a half dozen aliases: Christian Palermo, Christopher O’Neil, Christian O’Neil, Christopher Mineo, Christian Mineo and Christian Dover.
Since his arrest in Groton, Palermo has gotten into more trouble while jailed at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in St. Johnsbury, Vermont State Police said.
He is due in Vermont Superior Court in St. Johnsbury on July 13 to face a charge of assault on a protected professional for spitting on Correctional Officer Jacob LaRose, 28, of St Johnsbury during an incident on June 10, State Police Detective Sgt. Lyle Decker said.
Palermo initially refused to go into his cell about 7:20 p.m. After a short interaction with LaRose, Palermo complied. A short time when Larose was doing his rounds, Palermo asked to speak with him, Decker said. LaRose stopped at Palermo’s cell, and the inmate reportedly spit into the guard’s face, police said.
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