The Attorney General’s Office announced that Joshua Douglas, 34, of Hartland, Vermont, was arraigned yesterday on six felony and four misdemeanor counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The charges brought against Mr. Douglas are the result of a criminal investigation, including the execution of residential and online data search warrants conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), including personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Vermont State Police, and with the assistance of the Hartford Police Department and Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The investigation was initiated when VT-ICAC received three CyberTipline Reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual had uploaded what was suspected to be images of child sexual abuse materials, commonly referred to as “child pornography,” to Google Photos. Based upon the criminal investigation of these tips, Mr. Douglas was identified as the source of the suspected content uploaded to Google Photos.
Mr. Douglas pleaded not guilty at his arraignment yesterday in Vermont Superior Court, Windsor Criminal Division. The Court, Judge Heather Gray presiding, ordered conditions of release which prohibit Mr. Douglas’ contact with minors and access to the internet, and imposed a $5,000 unsecured appearance bond.
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. The Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Vermont State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and other federal, state, county, and municipal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies are affiliated with VT-ICAC.
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: Lauren Jandl, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171