Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Benjamin G Mallery, 30, of Sheffield, Vermont, was arrested and arraigned today on five felony counts of Possession of Child Sex Abuse Materials and one misdemeanor count of Possession of Child Sex Abuse Materials. The Caledonian Record is reporting that Mallery is a corrections officer at the Northeast Correctional Complex in St Johnsbury.
The charges brought against Mallery are the result of a criminal investigation – including the execution of residential and online data search warrants—conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), including personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Vermont State Police.
The investigation was initiated when VT-ICAC received a CyberTipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual possessed what was suspected to be images of child sexual abuse material, commonly referred to as “child pornography,” within that individual’s Google account. Based upon the criminal investigation of this tip, Mr. Mallery, an employee and supervisor with the Vermont Department of Corrections, was identified as the source of the suspected content within the identified Google account.
Today, Mr. Mallery pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Vermont Superior Court, Caledonia Criminal Division. After hearing the Attorney General’s Office’s argument for $10,000 bail, the Court, Superior Court Judge Justin Jiron presiding, released the defendant and ordered conditions of release which restrict Mr. Mallery’s access to minors, access to the internet, and access to devices capable of accessing the internet during the pendency of the 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, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Vermont State Police, Homeland Security Investigations and other federal, state, county, and municipal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies are affiliated with VT-ICAC.
The Attorney General 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.
3.31.2022. ST. JOHNSBURY – Attorney General’s Office