James Beam, 29, of Springfield, Vermont, was arraigned today on one felony count of Attempted Luring of a Child. The charge stems from an undercover investigation by the Hartford Police Department and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC). Beam allegedly initiated contact online via the Grindr application with a Hartford investigator posing as a 14-year-old minor. He engaged in sexual conversations and arranged a meeting to engage in sexual acts.
Beam pleaded not guilty at the arraignment in Vermont Superior Court, Windsor Criminal Division. Judge Heather Gray presided over the hearing and ordered conditions of release that restrict Beam’s contact with minors and 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. The task force also provides forensic examination services, technical assistance, law enforcement training, and public education and outreach.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) serves as the nation’s centralized reporting system for online exploitation of children. Reports can be made for 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 1-800-843-5678 or visit https://report.cybertip.org.
NCMEC also offers support for those recovering from child sexual exploitation. They provide emotional and peer support, help remove content from the internet, and assist in locating mental health professionals. For more information, visit https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/csam-resources or call 1-800-843-5678.
The Attorney General’s Office emphasizes that individuals charged with a crime are legally presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.