South Burlington man charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon (DOJ)

BURLINGTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont stated that Kendall Liberty, 25, of South Burlington, Vermont, has been charged by criminal complaint with unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Liberty appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on Friday, September 25, 2026, who ordered that Liberty be detained pending further proceedings in the case.

According to court records, on November 27, 2025, a woman reported to the Burlington Police Department that between that day and the previous day, she had received numerous messages from Liberty, including threats that he was going to find her and hurt her. The woman returned to her residence on November 27, 2025, after learning that police had encountered Liberty, to find her residence in disarray, with blood on the walls. Burlington Police reviewed camera footage from the woman's residence that confirmed Liberty had been to the woman's residence when she was not present. A relative of the woman discovered a pistol in cushions of the woman's couch, which law enforcement's investigation linked to Liberty. Liberty is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior federal felony conviction.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Liberty is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Liberty faces up to 15 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Burlington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and thanked the Rutland Police Department for their assistance.

The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Lasher. Liberty is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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Updated September 28, 2026