The Attorney General’s Office announced that Stephen Kingsbury, 23, of Rutland, Vermont, was arraigned today on one count of felony Aggravated Sexual Assault on a Child, one felony count of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, and six counts of felony Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The charges brought against Mr. Kingsbury were the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and the Rutland Police Department.
Mr. Kingsbury pleaded not guilty at the arraignment today in Vermont Superior Court, Rutland Criminal Division. The Court, Judge Cortland Corsones presiding, ordered Mr. Kingsbury to be held without bail.
Vermont 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