Nikolas Kerest U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
Matthew Isaacs, a 33-year-old from Hartford, Vermont, has been charged with producing child sexual abuse materials, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont. Isaacs faces allegations of sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl living in his apartment building and taking explicit photographs, as revealed by court records.
Isaacs is set to appear for an initial court hearing before United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford in Burlington. During the abuse, Isaacs allegedly modified the photos by adding inappropriate text and images. He has been previously charged in Vermont Superior Court for Lewd and Lascivious Conduct with a Child and was under conditions of release during his federal arrest. Authorities identify Isaacs by a unique tattoo on his arm.
"The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Isaacs is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty." If convicted, he could face a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, although the final sentence would be determined by the District Court.
The investigation involved the Hartford Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, praised by Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt is prosecuting the case, with Isaacs represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. It is conducted by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), collaboratively working with local and federal resources to prosecute offenders and support victims. More details can be found at Justice.gov/PSC.
