The Attorney General’s Office announced June 22 that Michael Dubois, 35, of Proctor was arraigned today on seven felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse material. The charges brought against Dubois are the result of a criminal investigation, including the execution of search warrants into Dubois’ residence and online data accounts, conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), which included personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Manchester Police Department, Vermont State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The investigation was initiated when VT-ICAC received multiple CyberTipline Reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that files of suspected child sexual abuse material were uploaded onto a Google platform. Based upon the criminal investigation of these tips, Mr. Dubois was identified as the suspect. Law enforcement officers seized multiple electronic devices when they executed their search warrant, and law enforcement will be conducting further examinations of those seized devices to search for evidence of the possession of additional files of child sexual abuse material.
Dubois pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in the Vermont Superior Court, Rutland Criminal Division. The Court, Judge Cortland Corsones presiding, ordered Mr. Dubois to abide by certain conditions of release which restrict Dubois’ access to minors, the internet, and devices capable of accessing the internet during the pendency of this case.
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.
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.
