State senator accused of sexual assault

A Vermont state senator is facing criminal charges of sexual assault, human trafficking and prohibited acts, the Vermont State Police confirmed Thursday night.

Sen. Norman H. McAllister, R-Franklin, is in the midst of his second two-year term as a Republican senator covering most of Franklin County and the town of Alburgh in Grand Isle County. He has been a successful large dairy farmer and active community member.

The Burlington Free Press was first to report that police arrested McAllister, 63, of Highgate on Thursday evening after he spent the day at the Statehouse working on legislative issues, including an education governance debate. State police plainclothes detectives confronted McAllister outside the Statehouse during a break in legislative debate late Thursday afternoon.

He is due to be arraigned at 11 a.m. Friday in Vermont Superior Court in St. Albans.

UPDATE: Sen. McAllister pleads not guilty to sexual assault charges

The allegations include that he either accepted or solicited sex from two women in exchange for overdue rent, officials told the Free Press.

Judge Alison Arms ordered McAllister jailed for lack of $20,000 bail at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans Town.

A voice message left at the McAllister home Thursday night was not returned.

A sworn police statement outlining the allegations in more detail would be withheld until after the arraignment Friday, the state police said.

Gov. Peter Shumlin would have no comment Thursday night, spokesman Scott Coriell told the Free Press. Coriell said he thought it was premature to speak. He said it was possible Shumlin might speak once more information was made public at the court arraignment, but there was no guarantee.

Sen. President Pro Tempore John Campbell, D-Windsor, could not be reached for comment. An aide said he also would be unlikely to comment. His seatmate from the Franklin district, Republican Sen. Dustin Degree, declined comment Thursday night but said he might be willing to speak Friday once he learns more information.

McAllister serves on both the Agriculture and Institutions committees in the Senate.

He served as a House member for four two-year terms (2003-10). He was part of a two-seat district covering the towns of Berkshire, Franklin, Highgate and Richford. He served on the House Agriculture Committee while a state representative.

McAllister spoke to his colleagues in the Senate this spring about the death of his wife during the legislative debate over keeping certain safeguards in place for assisted suicide legislation.

The conservative McAllister has proposed some legislation that has raised eyebrows, including his support for a bill requiring those receiving public assistance from Vermont taxpayers to submit to drug testing. The bill would make substance-abuse treatment available to recipients who test positive.

He has served as a director for the Franklin County Farm Bureau; president of the Northwest Holstein Club; director and president for the Missisquoi Amateur Hockey Association; and director of the Highgate Little League.

McAllister also was named Vermont Farm Bureau young farmer of the year in 1981 and Franklin County JC's young farmer of the year in 1982. He is a member of the NRA.

He was born and raised in Windsor and graduated in 1971 from Vermont Technical College in Randolph with an associate degree in agriculture management. He relocated to Franklin County four years later.

Staff Writer April Burbank contributed to this report. Contact Mike Donoghue at 660-1845 or mdonoghue@freepressmedia.com Follow Mike on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FreepsMikeD.