BY MICHAEL GELBWASSER/SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

NORFOLK -- Former selectman and correction officers union leader Bill Perron is being accused of vandalizing Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson's car in Taunton Saturday night.

Hodgson said he is seeking criminal complaints today charging Perron, a Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union leader, with two counts of malicious destruction over $250.

A conviction carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in jail for each felony count, Hodgson said.

The incidents happened during the Massachusetts Sheriffs Association's annual convention at the Holiday Inn.

Hodgson alleges Perron ``keyed'' his car and the car belonging to one of his staff. Hodgson said Perron ran either a key or a nail from his vehicle's back tail light and beyond the driver's front door.

The sheriff estimated the damage at $700 to $1,000. He said he is unsure where the other vehicle was damaged, but estimated the repairs at $400 to $500.

The incident was videotaped by the Bristol County sheriff's office mobile command center in the parking lot, Hodgson said. The sheriff said he has not seen the tape.

Hodgson said a joint investigation by his office and Taunton police prompted the decision to seek charges against Perron.

`` We've got more than sufficient evidence that he did indeed do this,'' Hodgson said. `` We're going to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.''

Hodgson said evidence suggests that no one else vandalized the cars. However, he said the investigation is continuing.

Perron, who resigned his seat on the board of selectmen on Aug. 30, declined to comment on the allegations. He now lives in South Boston.

His lawyer, Bruce Rich, said this morning he could not comment specifically about the allegations.

`` My client's version is quite different,'' Rich said.

Rich said he was waiting to talk to Hodgson about the case.

Hodgson said Perron told union executive board members about the incident Saturday night. But Perron denied that.

The sheriff said the board this week told Perron to either resign or be fired. `` It's nice to see that the union did the right thing,'' Hodgson said.

Perron acknowledged he submitted his resignation from his union job but said he sent a second letter to union representatives rescinding his resignation.

`` I'm still working for the union'' as its legislative representative, he said.

The union had no immediate comment on either the allegations or Perron's status with the union.

Perron and Hodgson have been at odds before.

In August 2001, Perron filed with Attorney General Thomas Reilly a state ballot question proposal allowing county sheriffs to be removed from office through recall elections called through citizen petitions.

Perron, at the time, said his union wanted Hodgson gone, claiming the sheriff had `` heavy-handed and flagrant discipline'' policies. Reilly declined to place the union proposal on the 2002 state ballot.

rdrtrdrsrdrw15rsp160 MICHAEL GELBWASSER can be reached by calling 508-236-0336 or via e-mail at mgelbwasser(at)(at)thesunchronicle.com.