WATERBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont corrections officials announced Friday that habitual offender Harley Breer will not be released on furlough.
The Vermont Department of Corrections on Wednesday had said the 55-year-old was set to be released as soon as next week into the tiny town of Canaan, sparking fear and anger in the community. Breer’s rap sheet dates back to the late 1980s for crimes including kidnapping, rape, and assault.
But DOC Commissioner Nick Deml now says that after further review, he is denying Breer’s release. He says the decision was based on “the significant risk he poses to public and victim safety, his history of repeated noncompliance with community supervision, and his high likelihood of fleeing.”
“I believe it is important in this case to address and alleviate public concerns. This decision underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to public safety and to ensuring that our policies and Vermont law are applied with integrity and diligence. The Department will conduct a thorough review of policies and make necessary changes to improve the Department’s furlough review process,” Deml said in a statement.
Breer’s maximum release date is October 2030.