RUTLAND — A Salisbury man has been sentenced to spend six and a half years in jail after pleading guilty to possessing a stolen gun.

Scott Clark, 41, was sentenced on Aug. 21 by U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino to 78 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Clark previously pleaded guilty to the charge on July 13, 2023.

According to court records, on Sept. 23, 2022, Clark unlawfully entered a camper parked at a campground in Salisbury. While inside of the camper, Clark found and took possession of a Glock model G23 .40 caliber pistol that belonged to the camper’s owner.

A Vermont State Police trooper responding to complaints of a suspicious person attempting to break into campers at the campground confronted Clark. While Clark was being questioned he clandestinely removed the Glock from his person and slipped it to his girlfriend, who was standing nearby and then placed the Glock in her purse, law enforcement officials said. The trooper observed the Glock in the girlfriend’s purse and seized the pistol.

U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the state police, Middlebury police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.