Rutland, Vt. – An Arkansas man was sentenced to over 6 years in prison for traveling to Vermont to have sex with a child.
Nicholas Shelton, 25, of Hope, Arkansas, was sentenced Nov. 20 to a term of 81 months’ imprisonment followed by a 15-year term of supervised release. Shelton previously pleaded guilty to traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
“Shelton traveled hundreds of miles to abuse a child. Thanks to the quick work of law enforcement, we were able to arrest Shelton and ensure the child was returned home to her parents,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New England. “HSI works every day with our state and local partners to use our resources to make our communities safer.”
According to court records, in March 2023, while living in Hope, Arkansas, Shelton began communicating with a 15-year-old girl who resided in Vermont using two social media platforms. During their conversations, Shelton and his victim began discussing having sexual intercourse, getting married, and having children. On March 25, 2023, Shelton traveled to Vermont with the intent to engage in sexual activity with the minor victim, knowing she was only 15 years old. Shelton was discovered living in the garage of the 15-year-old victim’s family home, and ordered to leave by the child’s parents. Shortly thereafter, the 15-year-old ran away from home, prompting the family to call the police for assistance. Two days later, the 15-year-old child and Shelton were found camping in the woods near a park in Essex, Vermont. Shelton admitted to having intercourse with the 15-year-old child.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations’ Burlington Resident Agent in Charge office and the Essex Police Department.
HSI is a global leader in the fight against child exploitation. Last year, HSI special agents dedicated 1.2 million case hours toward investigating child exploitation. This heinous crime harms the most vulnerable in our society: our kids. As technology evolves and more people have access to the internet, children are at a greater risk than ever. HSI’s special agents and analysts around the world are dedicated to countering this threat.
Report suspected child exploitation to the HSI Tip Line at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP or through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website.
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