The Attorney General’s Office announced that Brian Wood, 22, of Hartford, Vermont, was arraigned yesterday on one felony count of Luring a Child.
The charge brought against Mr. Wood is the result of a criminal investigation, including the execution of search warrants, conducted by Hartford Police Department and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), which included personnel from the Attorney General’s Office. Based on the criminal investigation, Mr. Wood is alleged to have engaged in sexually explicit conversations with someone he believed to be a minor on the Snapchat and Facebook platforms.
Mr. Wood pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on February 24, 2025, in Vermont Superior Court, Windsor Unit, Criminal Division. The Court, Judge Heather Gray presiding, ordered conditions of release which restrict Mr. Wood’s access to minors, electronic devices, and 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