Duxbury man picks up new aggravated domestic assault charge

January 11, 2026 | By Eric Blaisdell | Times Argus staff writer

BARRE — A Duxbury man already facing an aggravated domestic assault charge has picked up another such charge after police say he forced his way into a home.

Tristan J. Dunster, 40, pleaded not guilty on Jan. 6 in Washington County criminal court in Barre to felony counts of first-degree aggravated domestic assault and burglary, as well as misdemeanor counts of criminal threatening, unlawful mischief, and violating conditions of release. If convicted, Dunster faces a maximum sentence of 32 years in prison. He was ordered held without bail, pending a weight-of-the-evidence hearing, and was housed at Northeast Correctional Complex in St. Johnsbury as of today.

Vermont State Police Trooper Alyssa Nozka said in an affidavit that a domestic disturbance was reported on Dec. 29 in Duxbury. Nozka said the caller reported they were a friend of the victim and had been informed by the victim that the victim’s former romantic partner was on the way to the victim’s home. The trooper said dispatch also received a 911 text from the victim asking for help, stating she could not call.

Nozka said she arrived at the scene and saw a man standing in the doorway. She said the door was shut quickly when she approached. The trooper said she knocked on the door and the victim answered, reporting Dunster had run out the back door.

Nozka said she was unable to locate Dunster, but his truck was located outside the home and was running.

The trooper said the victim had redness on her face and scratches on her neck. She said the victim reported Dunster had placed his fists against her neck and applied upward pressure. Nozka said the victim also reported Dunster put his fingers in her mouth and pulled. The trooper noted the victim’s lips were bleeding and she had bleeding in her mouth.

The victim reported she nearly lost consciousness during the assault, according to court records, and had difficulty swallowing.

Nozka said the victim reported that Dunster approached her while she was on the couch and stabbed a kitchen knife into the back of the couch. The trooper said the victim reported Dunster told her to, “Shut the [expletive] up before anyone calls the cops.”

The victim reported Dunster repeatedly threatened to kill her and her cat, according to court records. Nozka said the victim reported Dunster had sent her a text telling her he was coming over because she had upset him for an unknown reason. The trooper said the victim reported she told Dunster she did not want him at the home, but he burst through the door and demanded money and her credit cards. Nozka said the victim reported that Dunster refuses to return the keys to her home and enters her home at random times.

Dunster has conditions of release in place because he pleaded not guilty in October to felony counts of first-degree aggravated domestic assault and second-degree unlawful restraint. In that case, police said Dunster put a different former romantic partner into a headlock, threatened to kill her, and held her hostage in her bedroom in Waterbury. Police said this victim was able to fight Dunster off and get away. Dunster was located afterward and denied that his interaction with the victim had turned physical, according to police.

This story was first published by The Times Argus on Jan. 9.