Brattleboro woman pleads not guilty in Circle K shooting case

According to an affidavit, a woman told police she was targeted because of a debt she allegedly owed.

A Brattleboro woman accused in a firearm incident tied to a money dispute was arraigned Wednesday in Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division, on a charge of reckless endangerment.

Cherie Vickery, 46, of Brattleboro, entered a not guilty plea and appeared to be in pain when she came into the courtroom, according to the hearing. Judge Michael Kainen declined to set cash bail, despite the state’s request, and instead ordered release conditions while expressing hope that she would seek assistance.

Those conditions bar Vickery from committing any further crimes, carrying weapons or contacting anyone connected to the case.

Defense attorney Carolyn Conrad told the court that Vickery is dealing with withdrawal symptoms and cannot afford bail. She said Vickery is currently unhoused and argued that a $1,000 bail would function the same as holding her without release. Conrad also said Vickery has cleared her existing dockets, though she acknowledged earlier court compliance problems.

Kainen said the facts suggested Vickery was not the main person involved, but that she had sought help from another person in what the judge described as a collections matter. He said the circumstances appeared connected to unstable living conditions and encouraged her to get help before her next court date.

The case stems from a Tuesday afternoon report of shots fired in the Circle K parking lot just off Canal Street. Brattleboro police said no one was hurt. Investigators said the people involved knew each other and that the episode appears to have been isolated.

According to an affidavit, a woman told police she was targeted because of a debt she allegedly owed. Vickery allegedly told officers that $400 had been taken from her and that a friend fired a 9-millimeter round near the victims’ vehicle. She said the shot appeared to be aimed downward toward the tires.

Police said surveillance video shows Vickery getting out of her vehicle, then standing behind the door and making motions that appeared to be cycling a pistol. The affidavit says she was later seen as the truck drove away with her right hand extended as though she were aiming a gun before she returned to her car.

When officers asked what she had in her hand as she exited her vehicle at Circle K, Vickery said it was a BB gun, police said. A BB gun was later found under the mattress in the hotel room where she is staying. Police noted that such a weapon can cause permanent blindness or severe eye injury.