Wanted Newport fugitive found hiding in a closet in Holland

HOLLAND — The U.S. Marshals Service, Vermont Violent Offender Task Force (VVOTF) arrested a fugitive in Holland, wanted for three outstanding felony arrest warrants.

Jay Gochie, 37, of Newport was picked up yesterday morning. He has been wanted by police since August 21, 2015, for underlying charges related to his parole violation which included 29 offenses.

Many of the offenses included felonies, such as six counts of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, one count of burglary, and two counts of felony forgery.

Gochie was also wanted by The Hardwick Police Department for a burglary which occurred in Hardwick on August 13, 2015.

Additionally, he was wanted by The Vermont State Police in Derby for felony vehicle operation without owner’s consent which allegedly occurred around the time of the burglary in Hardwick.

After this incident, it is alleged that Gochie was actively hiding from law enforcement, evading arrest, and had shaved his head to alter his appearance.

Police also say they believe that he was committing more burglaries while out on the run.

Gochie is no stranger to the criminal justice system. He has a significant criminal history which started when he was a teenager.

His extensive criminal history displays offenses in the Vermont counties of Orleans, Franklin, Lamoille, and Caledonia.

These charges include at least 6 burglaries of an unoccupied dwelling, escape custody from furlough, possession of narcotics, a false alarm bomb threat, grand larceny, possession of stolen property, false information to police, multiple forgery charges, several charges for violating conditions of release, and numerous charges for violation of parole.

In February 2016, Newport Probation and Parole requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service in locating and apprehending Gochie, as his whereabouts were unknown.

Deputy U.S. Marshals gathered information on his possible whereabouts, and on May 26, 2016, he was finally taken into custody at a Holland residence located along the U.S. and Canadian border.

He was found hiding in a closet.

He was held on $75,000 bail.

This arrest was the result of a culmination of investigative efforts by the U.S. Marshals VVOTF, The Vermont State Police, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, The U.S. Border Patrol, and The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department.