BURLINGTON — A White River Junction man — who remains the chief suspect in the deadly shooting of a Windsor County teenager five years ago — has been sentenced to 9 months in federal prison after he tested positive for drugs and failed to report to his probation officer.

Richard P. Whitcomb Jr., 43, admitted on Friday in federal court he had violated his supervised release terms imposed in January 2020 for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm two years earlier.

Whitcomb is believed to be the last person to see Austin D. Colson, 19, of South Royalton, alive before he vanished on Jan. 11, 2018, authorities have said.

Whitcomb’s claimed alibi proved to be pure fiction, Assistant U. S. Attorney Wendy Fuller has said. A friend denied going to Manchester with Whitcomb and the suspect’s cellphone showed he remained in the area.

Chief Federal Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford imposed the 9-month sentence after hearing arguments from lawyers on both sides about Whitcomb violating his release terms.

Whitcomb admitted to both violations, using illegal drugs and failing to meet with his probation officer as ordered.

Whitcomb tested positive for cocaine on June 27, 2022 and admitted using cocaine on Aug. 1 and 2, 2022, court records show. The petition from the probation officer also noted a fourth drug violation when Whitcomb tested positive for cocaine, methamphetamines and marijuana on Dec. 1, 2022.

Whitcomb also failed to report to his probation officer as directed on two dates: Aug. 10 and Dec. 21, 2022, records show.

Crawford told Whitcomb that once he is discharged from prison on the latest sentence that he will not face supervised release or any more oversight by federal authorities in the case.

Whitcomb will get credit for the time since his arrest on Feb. 9.

Windsor County State’s Attorney Ward Goodenough said Monday the homicide case remains under active investigation.

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