Lisa Rathke/Associated Press
Max Misch at a press conference about the investigation into harassment of former state representative Kiah Morris last month
The provocateur accused of racial harassment of former state representative Kiah Morris was charged Wednesday night with buying banned high-capacity firearms magazines.
The Vermont State Police announced the arrest of Bennington resident Max B. Misch, 36, in a brief news release. He was scheduled for arraignment Thursday in state court in Bennington.
Morris, the only black woman in the Vermont legislature before she resigned last fall, cited Misch's torrent of hateful online messages as one reason she stepped down. She previously obtained a yearlong protective order against him. Misch is an avowed white nationalist.
On January 14,
Misch crashed a Bennington press conference during which Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced he would not bring criminal charges against anyone accused of harassing Morris. Misch strode into the event, held at the Congregation Beth El synagogue, bearing the image of alt-right meme Pepe the Frog on his shirt.
Just 11 days later, the Vermont State Police began investigating an allegation that Misch had purchased high-capacity magazines, according to the news release.
Last year, Vermont banned the purchase or possession of magazines that contain more than 10 rounds for a long gun or 15 rounds for a handgun, though people can
legally possess magazines they owned before the law went into effect.
Police executed a search warrant at Misch's residence on Wednesday, the release states. Misch faces up to a year in jail and a $500 fine.
Donovan's office will prosecute the case, according to the release.
The state police, Bennington police and the Attorney General's Office did not return calls for comment Wednesday evening.
Clarification, March 5, 2019: This story has been updated to clarify Vermont's law regarding the possession of high-capacity magazines.