Billy Raymond, a 42-year-old resident of Barre, Vermont, was sentenced on Mar. 11 in Vermont Superior Court, Washington Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to two felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement and the judicial system to address crimes involving child sexual exploitation and the distribution of illegal content online.
Judge Michael Harris presided over the sentencing and imposed a sentence of zero to five years to serve, all suspended, with ten years of probation. The conditions of Raymond’s probation include mandatory completion of sex offender programming, limitations on his contact with children, and restrictions on his internet access. In addition, Raymond must register as a sex offender for ten years following completion of his sentence. If he violates any terms of his probation, he could face up to five years in prison.
The Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC) investigates cases related to child sexual exploitation over the internet. VT-ICAC also provides forensic examination services and technical assistance for law enforcement agencies as well as public education about these issues.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) serves as a centralized reporting system for suspected online enticement or exploitation involving children. Reports can be made at any time by calling 1-800-843-5678 or visiting https://report.cybertip.org. NCMEC also offers support services such as emotional counseling and assistance with removing harmful content from the internet.
