By The Associated Press
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. (AP) -- A Lebanon, N.H., man accused of negligent driving that caused the death of a Vermont State Police trooper has now been charged with murder.
Eric Daley, 23, pleaded innocent after his arrest in June to a variety of charges and faced up to 36 years in prison if convicted. Now, he could be imprisoned for life.
“After a review of the police evidence and Mr. Daley’s background, it was the state’s judgment that not only was there sufficient evidence to support the charge, but it was warranted under the circumstances,” Robert Sand, Windsor County state’s attorney, said Monday.
The new charges include second-degree murder and counts of possession of LSD and Ecstasy. The second-degree murder charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Daley’s attorney, Kevin Griffin, could not be reached Monday by the Rutland Herald for comment. He recently filed a motion to withdraw from the case.
Daley allegedly killed Sgt. Michael Johnson while fleeing a chase on Interstate 91 in Norwich. Police said they believed Daley was on his way to make a drug deal when he was initially stopped.
Police said they later found drugs in his vehicle, including 2 pounds of marijuana with a street value of more than $10,000.
Police said Daley was stopped on June 15 on Interstate 91 in Thetford for driving 82 mph in a 65-mph zone. Police said Daley sped away as they were deciding whether to get a police dog to search his car for drugs.
Johnson, positioned in a crossover in an Interstate 91 median in Norwich, put a strip of spikes across the highway to stop Daley, who allegedly was driving more than 100 mph.
Police said Daley swerved to avoid the spikes and struck and killed Johnson, who was outside his cruiser.
Daley then fled and was captured two days later, hiking the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania.
Daley has been jailed for lack of $300,000 bail since being returned to Vermont.