The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Luke Lanfear, 43, of Burlington, Vermont, was charged with 11 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, which included eight felony second offense counts, and three misdemeanor counts. The charges brought against Mr. Lanfear 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, Homeland Security Investigations, the Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, and the Essex Police Department.
The investigation was initiated when VT-ICAC received three CyberTipline Reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual was suspected of possessing electronic files on a Google Drive and/or Google Photo platform that were known to contain child sexual abuse material. Based on the criminal investigation of the tips, Mr. Lanfear was identified as the suspected owner of the account where child sexual abuse material was located. Law enforcement officers seized multiple electronic devices when they executed their search warrant, and law enforcement will be conducting further examinations of those seized devices to search for evidence of the possession of additional files of child sexual abuse material. At the time of arrest, Mr. Lanfear was on probation with the Department of Corrections until August 22, 2029, for a prior felony count of possession of child sexual material.
Mr. Lanfear pleaded not guilty at his arraignment today in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Criminal Division. The court, Judge Allison Arms presiding, ordered Mr. Lanfear to follow certain pre-trial conditions of release, which include restrictions on Mr. Lanfear’s access to minors and the internet, and to devices capable of accessing the internet during the pendency of the case.
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 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