The Attorney General's Office has announced the arraignment of Trint Johns, a 20-year-old resident of Montpelier, Vermont. Mr. Johns faces charges including one felony count of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child, two felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials, and one felony count of promoting a recording of sexual conduct. These charges follow an investigation led by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), which involved collaboration between the Attorney General’s Office, Vermont State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The investigation began after VT-ICAC received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). This tip was initially forwarded by the police department in Kernersville, North Carolina. The subsequent investigation identified Mr. Johns as possessing multiple images of child sexual abuse materials.
During his arraignment on May 13, 2025, in Vermont Superior Court, Washington Criminal Division, Mr. Johns pleaded not guilty to all charges. Judge Michael Harris presided over the court proceedings and imposed conditions restricting Mr. Johns's access to minors, deadly weapons, electronic devices, and the internet.
VT-ICAC focuses on investigating cases related to child sexual exploitation via the internet. Their work includes addressing production and distribution issues related to child sexual abuse materials while also providing forensic examination services and technical assistance.
NCMEC serves as a centralized reporting system for online exploitation cases involving children across the nation. Reports can be made regarding various forms of online enticement or exploitation by contacting their 24-hour call center at 1-800-843-5678 or visiting their website.
For those recovering from child sexual exploitation, NCMEC offers support services such as emotional aid and assistance in removing harmful content from the internet. More information is available through their resources page or by calling their helpline.