VSP: Waterbury man stalked woman, broke into her shop

February 16, 2026  |  By Eric Blaisdell  |  Times Argus staff writer

BARRE — A Waterbury man is accused of stalking a woman and breaking into her shop.

Michael E. McNamara, 42, pleaded not guilty on Feb. 11 in Washington County criminal court in Barre to a felony count of burglary and misdemeanor counts of petit larceny, unlawful trespass into a motor vehicle, stalking, domestic assault and violating conditions of release. If convicted, McNamara faces a maximum sentence of 20 years and three months in prison. He was released on conditions after the state unsuccessfully argued that he be held on bail.

For the burglary, petit larceny, and unlawful trespass charges, Trooper Katie Finn, of the Vermont State Police, said in her affidavit that a woman called police on Feb. 3 to report McNamara, her former romantic partner, had stolen keys from her shop in Moretown. Finn said the victim reported that McNamara had been harassing her since he moved out last month.

Finn said the victim reported she had surveillance footage showing McNamara entering her shop and taking keys from two trucks, one of which had her house keys on it. The victim reported that McNamara then sent her a photo of him holding the keys with text that said, “It happens lol.” 

The trooper said the victim reported McNamara knew the door code to get into the building, and she had not had the opportunity yet to change the code after they broke up.

Finn said the victim reported McNamara had been sending her pictures of areas where she works, which made her feel unsafe.

Finn said she contacted McNamara by phone and asked to speak with him about the keys. She said McNamara told the trooper the incident was a civil matter, not criminal. The trooper said McNamara started yelling and stated he had a right to her property because she hadn’t paid him for work he performed, and then he hung up on the investigator.

She said the victim later reported McNamara dropped the keys off in her mailbox, but he had again entered her shop and entered a truck, though he didn’t take anything. The victim reported McNamara tried to get into her shop a third time, but the door code had been changed, so he was unsuccessful.

For the stalking, domestic assault, and violating conditions of release charges, Trooper Alexis Marciniak, also of the State Police, said in her affidavit that the victim again contacted police on Wednesday to report McNamara had used his vehicle to block her vehicle in a driveway in Duxbury. Marciniak said the victim reported that while speaking with dispatch, McNamara had returned to his vehicle and left the scene.

About 30 minutes later, the trooper said the victim called again and reported McNamara was following her. The victim reported that McNamara owns a handgun, which might be located in his vehicle, according to court records. Marciniak said the victim reported McNamara had not displayed the gun nor pointed it at her.

The trooper said the victim reported McNamara had exited his vehicle and climbed onto hers. The victim reported that McNamara punched her vehicle and was yelling at her about money before leaving, according to court records.

Marciniak said she spoke to McNamara, who reported the victim owes him about $115,000 from prior work. She said McNamara reported that he went and found the victim while she was working and asked her when she was going to pay him. The trooper said McNamara denied punching the victim’s vehicle. She said he also denied blocking the victim in a driveway.

McNamara had conditions of release in place because he pleaded not guilty in December to misdemeanor counts of simple assault and unlawful mischief. One of his conditions of release was a prohibition against violent, threatening or tumultuous behavior. In that case, police said McNamara attacked a family member of the victim’s during an incident in Waterbury in late December.