PITTSFORD, Vt. (WCAX) – Two local law enforcement officers have lost their certifications.
Former Caledonia County Sheriff’s Deputy Stephen Bunnell was accused of soliciting sex and nude photos from women in exchange for money that prosecutors say was used to purchase drugs.
Bunnell pleaded guilty to one count of disturbing the peace by electronic means and one count of prohibited conduct in 2022. The Vermont Criminal Justice Council voted unanimously to permanently revoke his certification last month.
The council also revoked former Essex Police Officer Lance Martel’s certification after he was charged with voyeurism in 2021. Police say Martel took photos of a woman he knew without her consent.
The council says he can reapply for recertification in seven years after completing a council-enforced training program, but they can choose not to re-certify him.