Child Sex Offender Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Jason Bonds, 43, of Ascutney, Vermont, was sentenced on October 1, 2018, in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, to serve 45 months in prison after his guilty plea to one count of possession of child pornography.  U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III also ordered Bonds to serve a five (5) year term of supervised release, and to pay a $100 special assessment. 

According to court records and proceedings, in 2016 Google discovered images of child pornography on its platform.  Google transmitted a “Cybertip” to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which forwarded the tip to the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (the ICAC).  The ICAC investigated the tip and ultimately obtained a warrant to search Bonds’ former residence in Ascutney, Vermont.  Upon learning that Bonds no longer resided there, law enforcement went to his new residence in Westminster, Vermont.  In an interview with investigators, Bonds disclosed that he had viewed child pornography on his laptop computer, which he surrendered to investigators. During a forensic examination of Bonds’ computer, law enforcement found approximately 1,300 images and videos depicting child pornography.  Some of the images were of children ranging in age from infant to age six (6), and depicted sadistic and masochistic conduct.  Law enforcement also found evidence that Bonds went to chat rooms on the Internet where he chatted with whom he believed were 12 and 13-year old children. 

During the investigation of the child pornography allegations, a prepubescent girl whom Bonds knew claimed that he sexually assaulted her.  On May 22, 2018, Bonds pleaded guilty to lewd and lascivious conduct involving that child in Vermont state court.  He is expected to be sentenced on the state charges on October 2, 2018.  Bonds’ guilty plea to these charges in state court was a condition of his federal plea agreement. 

United States Attorney Christina E. Nolan commended the efforts of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Brattleboro Police Department in the investigation and prosecution of Bonds.  The prosecution of Bonds was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson.  Bonds was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven L. Barth.  

U.S. Attorney Nolan noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.projectsafechildhood.gov.