The Attorney General’s Office announced that Stephen Lane, 55, of Winooski, Vermont, was arraigned today on one felony count of Luring a Child. The charge brought against Mr. Lane is the result of a criminal investigation initially conducted by the Department of the Army Criminal Intelligence Division and later referred to the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC) with assistance from Burlington Police Department, South Burlington Police Department, and Winooski Police Department. Mr. Lane communicated online via Meeff and WhatsApp with a Department of the Army Special Agent posing as a 13-year-old minor, where he allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the undercover investigator.
Mr. Lane pleaded not guilty at the arraignment today in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Criminal Division. The Court, Judge David Fenster presiding, ordered conditions of release that restrict Mr. Lane’s contact with minors and his access to the internet.
VT-ICAC investigates cases of child sexual exploitation occurring over the internet, including the production and online distribution of child sexual abuse materials. VT-ICAC also provides forensic examination services, technical assistance, law enforcement training, and public education and outreach.
Every child deserves a safe childhood. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is the nation’s centralized reporting system for the online exploitation of children. Anyone can make reports of suspected online enticement of children for sexual acts, child sexual molestation, child sexual abuse material, child sex tourism, child sex trafficking, unsolicited obscene materials sent to a child, misleading domain names, and misleading words or digital images on the internet. To make a report, call the 24-hour call center at 1-800-843-5678 or visit https://report.cybertip.org.
Additionally, if you are recovering from child sexual exploitation, you do not have to navigate it alone. NCMEC can help with emotional and peer support, removing content from the internet, and locating mental health professionals. For more information, please visit https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/csam-resources or call the 24-hour call center at 1-800-843-5678.
The Attorney General’s Office emphasizes that individuals charged with a crime are legally presumed innocent until their guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CONTACT: Amelia Vath, Outreach and Communications Coordinator, 802-828-3171