On the morning of August 20, 2015 at about 6:00 A.M., officers from the Hinesburg Police Department encountered Christopher Bonta (age 32 of Burlington and Montpelier) sleeping in a vehicle. A check of law enforcement records revealed that the vehicle has been reported stolen from Lafountain St. in Burlington on August 6, 2015. The vehicle had been haphazardly painted over and it appeared that Bonta had been living out of the vehicle for some time.
Bonta was also charged for his role in two larceny incidents that occurred in Burlington on August 5, 2015. In the first incident, Bonta entered the Burlington Bay Café purporting to be a job applicant and while there he stole an employee’s mobile device. In the second incident, he stole a guitar from another business.
For his role in the stolen vehicle incident, Bonta was charged with Possession of Stolen Property and Aggravated Operating without Owner’s Consent, both felony charges. For his role in the larceny incidents, Bonta was charged with two counts of Petit Larceny.
Bonta was arraigned at the Chittenden Superior Court – Criminal Division and subsequently released on conditions.
