Key Points
- Three people including two officers of the Newport Police Department were charged today after they allegedly assaulted someone while robbing them near the station.
- Joseph A. Balcom Jr., 40, James Higginson, 41, and Jennine Dubois, 39, of Newport had each pled not guilty on Wednesday in court to charges of assault and robbery, as well as aiding in the commission of a felony and lying to police.
- The trio allegedly committed their acts on 26 September 2026 inside a “parklet,” which is part of a section for pedestrians at the front of the police station.
- The case against him rested largely on the statements of witnesses as well as footage captured by cameras outside the police station.
- According to the alleged victim – 26-year-old Nathanael Bagley – he was hit three or four times and had his bag stolen from him.
- Higginson allegedly pulled out a knife at some stage of this incident according to police allegations.
- He added that the confrontation started over the fact that Bagley allegedly did not return a vape that Dubois had loaned him.
- The three were arrested on 3 November, but initial appearances saw them held without bail pending their subsequent court appearance.
- They were subsequently released after arraignment under various conditions – including no contact with Bagley as well as an agreement to not possess firearms or other deadly weapons.
- It should be noted that these are just allegations; All three defendants plead to not guilty hence considered innocent as long as proved guilty of guilt in court.
Newport (Wales Times) November 06, 2026 — Three uk/local/newport/">Newport residents have been accused of assaulting and attempting to rob a 26-year-old man in a small public seating area directly outside the Newport Police Department, with investigators citing footage from the department’s exterior camera as part of the evidence.
As reported by the Caledonian Record, Joseph A. Balcom Jr., aged 40; James Higginson, 41; and Jennine Dubois, 39, appeared before Judge Justin Jiron on Wednesday and entered not-guilty pleas to three charges: assault and robbery, aiding in the commission of a felony, and lying to police.
Newport Police Officer Jonathan Morin reported that the alleged offences took place on 26 September, outside the police department in an area described as a “parklet”. According to the Caledonian Record, the officer’s case relies on witness statements as well as video footage captured by the police department’s exterior camera.
The three are accused of assaulting Nathanael Bagley, 26, and attempting to take a bag from him. The allegations centre on an incident that police say began late at night and escalated into physical violence.
How Did Police Say The Incident Began?
When police first became involved, Balcom, Higginson and Dubois told officers that they had been assaulted. Officer Morin then spoke with Bagley, who gave a different account of what had occurred.
As reported by the Caledonian Record, Bagley told the officer that he was hit three or four times and that his bag was taken. The officer noted that Bagley had a bloody lip. Bagley reportedly said: “They were attacking me, smacking me.”
Officer Morin also spoke with Dubois. According to the Caledonian Record, she said the incident began because Bagley would not return a vape that she had allowed him to borrow.
During the alleged altercation, Higginson reportedly pulled out a knife. The Caledonian Record attributed that detail to Officer Morin’s report.
What Did The Surveillance Footage Allegedly Show?
The exterior camera footage forms a central part of the police account. Officer Morin’s reported review of the video describes a sequence in which Dubois allegedly pulls a black bag away from Bagley and begins walking away.
According to the footage account published by the Caledonian Record, Bagley gets up, walks behind Dubois and then accelerates to her side in an attempt to retrieve the black bag. While Bagley has hold of one of the bag’s handles, Balcom allegedly runs up behind him and strikes him, knocking him to the ground.
The report states that it is unclear whether Balcom punched or tackled Bagley initially, but that the footage allegedly shows Bagley going to the ground as a result of being assaulted by Balcom.
WCAX reported that Newport police said officers responded at about 10 p.m. on 26 September to a report of a fight in the parklet outside the police station. The broadcaster reported that surveillance footage showed three people assaulting and robbing a 26-year-old man.
MyNBC5 similarly reported that police alleged the three suspects were involved in a fight outside the police station on the night of 26 September, during which they allegedly assaulted and robbed a 26-year-old man.
ABC22/FOX44 reported that, according to Newport police, the group attacked a 26-year-old man in a small park just outside the station, knocked him to the ground and tried to take his belongings.
When Were The Three Arrested?
Balcom, Higginson and Dubois were arrested on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, more than a month after the alleged incident.
MyNBC5 reported that the three were held without bail until they could appear in court on Wednesday. WCAX also reported that they were arrested on Tuesday and appeared in court on Wednesday.
ABC22/FOX44 reported that the robbery was reported on the night of 26 September, but that it took investigators more than a month to identify the three suspects, all of whom were described as Newport residents.
Vermont’s public inmate data lists Balcom and Dubois as having been received at the Northern State Correctional Facility on 3 November, while Higginson is listed with a charge described as “ASSAULT & ROBBERY W/ WEAPON”.
What Happened In Court?
At their arraignments on Wednesday, Balcom, Higginson and Dubois pleaded not guilty. Judge Justin Jiron ordered them to stay away from Bagley.
The Caledonian Record reported that the defendants were also prohibited from possessing firearms or other deadly weapons.
MyNBC5 reported that, following the hearing, the three were ordered released on conditions that include having no contact with the victim. WCAX likewise reported that all three were released on conditions.
ABC22/FOX44 reported that the defendants were released on conditions and will appear in court at a later date.
What Charges Have Been Filed?
The three face the same core allegations, though media outlets have described the charges with slightly different wording. The Caledonian Record identified the charges as assault and robbery, aiding in the commission of a felony, and lying to police.
WCAX described the charges as assault and robbery with bodily injury, accessory aiding commission of a felony, and false reports to law enforcement. MyNBC5 used similar terminology, reporting charges including assault and robbery with bodily injury and accessory aiding in the commission of a felony.
ABC22/FOX44 reported charges including assault and robbery with bodily injury, false reports to law enforcement, and accessory to a felony.
The differences appear to reflect phrasing rather than separate accounts of the underlying case: all reports identify the same three defendants, the same alleged date and location, and the same basic allegation of an assault and attempted robbery involving a bag.
Background Of The Development
The alleged incident occurred in Newport, a city in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, in a “parklet” immediately outside the Newport Police Department. A parklet is typically a small public seating or green space area, and in this case it was close enough to the station that its exterior camera recorded the events under investigation.
Police said the reported fight occurred late on 26 September. The case then remained under investigation for more than a month before Balcom, Higginson and Dubois were identified and arrested on 3 November.
The allegations involve claims from both sides in the immediate aftermath: the three defendants initially told police they had been assaulted, while Bagley told officers he had been attacked and robbed. Officer Morin’s report, as described by the Caledonian Record, states that witness statements and camera footage were used to establish the charges.
The case remains at an early stage. The defendants have pleaded not guilty, and no conviction has been recorded. The next court date has not been detailed in the available reporting, though ABC22/FOX44 reported that the three are expected to appear in court again at a later date.
Prediction: How Could This Affect Newport Residents?
For Newport residents, the case is likely to renew attention on safety and oversight in the area immediately surrounding the police station. Because the alleged assault and robbery is said to have happened in a public parklet outside the department, residents may expect questions about lighting, camera coverage, response times and whether the space is adequately monitored at night.
If the case proceeds, court proceedings could provide further public detail about the events of 26 September, including the full contents of the police report, witness evidence and any footage admitted in court. That could affect public confidence in how quickly local police identify suspects and how evidence from public-area cameras is used in criminal cases.
For people who use the parklet or nearby public spaces, the most immediate practical effect may be heightened awareness around late-night disputes, personal belongings and interactions that escalate into violence. The alleged trigger described in the police report disagreement over a borrowed vape illustrates how a minor personal dispute can become the subject of serious felony allegations when physical force and a weapon are allegedly involved.
For the defendants, the conditions of release no contact with Bagley and no firearms or other deadly weapons—will directly shape their movements and conduct while the case is pending. For Bagley, the no-contact order is intended to prevent further direct interaction while the allegations are tested in court.
