A Bakersfield resident, Jude Stone, age 20, has been charged with one felony count and two misdemeanor counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials, as well as two felony counts of promoting a recording of child sexual conduct. The charges stem from an investigation by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC).
Stone appeared in Vermont Superior Court, Franklin Criminal Division, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. Judge Elizabeth Novotny ordered his release under several conditions: Stone must avoid contact with minors aged 16 or younger, refrain from internet access, and not possess electronic devices capable of accessing the internet.
The VT-ICAC investigates cases involving child sexual exploitation online. Their work includes examining digital evidence, providing technical assistance to law enforcement agencies, offering training programs for officers, and conducting public education initiatives.
According to the Attorney General’s Office: “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.”
The office also stated: “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.”
Authorities remind that individuals facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
