The Attorney General’s Office announced that Robert Charbonneau, 50, of Burlington, Vermont, was arraigned today on one felony count of Luring a Child. The charge brought against the defendant is the result of an undercover criminal investigation conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC) and the Hartford Police Department during which Mr. Charbonneau initiated contact online via Kik messenger with a Hartford Investigator posing as a 14-year-old minor. The defendant engaged in sexual conversations with the Investigator and attempted to arrange to meet for sexual acts.
Mr. Charbonneau pleaded not guilty at the arraignment today in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Criminal Division. The Court, Judge Navah Spero presiding, ordered conditions of release that prohibit Mr. Charbonneau’s contact with minors and restrict 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: Lauren Jandl, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171