Duxbury man to remain in jail with pending aggravated domestic assault cases

February 13, 2026  |  By Eric Blaisdell  |  Times Argus Staff Writer

BARRE — A Duxbury man will remain behind bars while his aggravated domestic assault cases are pending.

Tristan J. Dunster, 40, has been charged in Washington County criminal court in Barre with two felony counts of first-degree aggravated domestic assault, a felony count of burglary, a felony count of second-degree unlawful restraint and misdemeanor counts of criminal threatening, unlawful mischief and violating conditions of release.

Dunster pleaded not guilty to one of the aggravated domestic assault counts and the unlawful restraint count in October and the remaining charges last month. He was ordered held without bail after his arraignment in January, and a weight-of-the-evidence hearing was held on Tuesday.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Michael Harris ordered Dunster to remain incarcerated while his cases are pending. He was housed at Northeast Correctional Complex in St. Johnsbury as of Thursday.

For the earlier domestic assault case, police said a woman reported Dunster had put her in a headlock and held her hostage in her bedroom in Waterbury. Police said the woman was Dunster’s former romantic partner.

The victim reported she was able to fight Dunster off and get away, according to court records.

Police said the victim reported Dunster had given her a ride home and apparently had used drugs after the trip because he became aggressive and blocked her exit from the bedroom. Police said the victim reported Dunster threatened to kill her and put her in a headlock.

Police said Dunster denied that their encounter had turned physical.

For the later domestic assault case, police said a different former romantic partner reported Dunster attacked her in late December.

Police arrived at the scene and saw a male standing in the doorway, but the door was quickly shut when investigators approached, according to court records. Police said when they knocked on the door, the victim answered and reported Dunster had fled out the back. Dunster’s truck was located nearby still running, but police said they were unable to locate him.

Police said the victim had scratches on her neck and redness on her face. The victim reported Dunster had pressed his fists against her neck and put his fingers in her mouth and pulled, according to court records. Police noted the victim was bleeding from her mouth and lips.

Police said the victim reported she nearly lost consciousness during the attack and had difficulty swallowing afterward.

The victim reported Dunster threatened to kill her and her cat and was upset for an unknown reason, according to court records. Police said the victim reported Dunster entered her home and demanded money and credit cards.

Police said the victim reported Dunster also grabbed a kitchen knife, held it against the victim’s neck and stabbed it into the couch near where the victim was sitting. The victim reported Dunster told her to, “Shut the (expletive) up before anyone calls the cops.”

Police said the victim reported Dunster has keys to her home, refuses to return them and shows up at random times.

Dunster’s attorney, Amy Davis, asked that Dunster be released to the custody of a family member who would act as a responsible adult and could face their own criminal charges if they fail to report any violations of Dunster’s conditions of release. The family member testified Tuesday that she was willing to let Dunster live with her in Barre and would do what she needed to do as a responsible adult for Dunster.

Washington County State’s Attorney Michelle Donnelly had the Vermont State Police trooper testify who responded to the later domestic assault case.

The prosecutor noted Dunster was released on conditions in the prior domestic assault case when he allegedly committed another aggravated domestic assault. Donnelly said that, given Dunster’s conduct, there are no conditions of release that the court could set that would adequately protect the public. Donnelly said it was clear in the latest incident that Dunster intended to intimidate, harass and hurt the victim.

“He had a goal, and the way he went about achieving it was through violence,” Donnelly said.

Davis argued the victim had invited Dunster over to her home to collect his things. The defense attorney said she contested that Dunster went to the home to assault the victim and to burglarize the home.

Davis noted Dunster has a limited criminal record and his last conviction before these cases was more than 20 years ago. The defense attorney said Dunster has a stable home to go to with his family member, who is willing to take him in. After taking some time off the bench to consider what he heard, Judge Harris said Dunster would remain held without bail while his cases are pending. The judge said that, in looking at the messages between the victim and Dunster before the latest domestic assault allegedly took place, the victim told Dunster she did not want him at her home. 

Judge Harris said even if Dunster had been invited over, the victim told him to leave multiple times during the alleged assault, and he didn’t. The judge said Dunster threatened to kill the victim and obtained a knife, dragging it along the victim’s throat and told her he would kill her if she didn’t stop yelling.

Judge Harris said Dunster had been released on conditions when this assault allegedly occurred, including prohibitions against violent or threatening behavior and against possessing dangerous weapons. 

The judge said he had concerns about Dunster’s ability to abide by the conditions of release.

This story was first published by the Times Argus on Feb. 12.