Thu Jan 02 10:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Notorious Vermont Criminal’s Release Delayed Amid Community Outcry

**MONTPELIER, VT** – The planned release of Harley Breer, a Vermont career criminal with a history of violent offenses including kidnapping and sexual assault, has been delayed, sparking outrage and concern in the small town of Canaan where he was expected to reside.

Breer, who has been in and out of prison since the late 1980s, completed the minimum sentence of a four-to-ten-year term following his arrest in 2021 after a five-day manhunt. His previously scheduled release date of December 1st, 2024, has been postponed until at least next week, although the Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) has not yet disclosed the reason for the delay.

News of the impending release, initially reported by freelance journalist Mike Donoghue, caused alarm in Canaan. Residents expressed deep concern about the lack of adequate law enforcement presence in their rural community to manage a high-risk offender like Breer. Essex County State’s Attorney Vince Illuzzi echoed these sentiments, criticizing the DOC for failing to consult with local law enforcement before releasing the notification. He emphasized that Canaan, primarily patrolled by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Border Patrol, is ill-equipped to handle an individual with Breer’s extensive criminal record. Illuzzi has communicated to DOC Commissioner Nick Deml that Breer’s release should occur in a location with sufficient police resources.

The DOC has confirmed that Breer is considered a high risk to re-offend. His criminal history includes multiple counts of kidnapping, sexual assault, and assault, stretching back to the 1980s. One particularly notorious incident involved the abduction and assault of his ex-girlfriend’s mother. Despite previous plea deals and promises of rehabilitation, Breer repeatedly violated probation and returned to prison.

The delay in Breer’s release provides a temporary reprieve for Canaan residents, who fear another violent incident. However, the uncertainty surrounding his eventual release continues to fuel anxiety within the community. The DOC has yet to announce a new release date or the rationale behind the postponement.

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