The Attorney General’s Office announced that Michael Holden, 35, of Manchester, Vermont, was arraigned today on six felony counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material – Second Offense. The charges brought against the defendant are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bennington Probation & Parole Office and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), including personnel from the Attorney General’s Office.
Mr. Holden was previously convicted of Possession of Child Pornography in 2018 and ordered to probation. A search at Mr. Holden’s residence revealed a smart device linked to a Google account. Subsequent investigation revealed that the Google account belonged to Mr. Holden and contained child sexual abuse material.
Mr. Holden pleaded not guilty at the arraignment today in Vermont Superior Court, Caledonia Unit Criminal Division. The Court, Judge Benjamin Battles presiding, ordered conditions of release that restrict Mr. Holden’s access to minors and 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. 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: Lauren Jandl, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171