Michael P. Drescher Acting United States Attorney for the District of Vermont | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
Kenneth Beane, 37, of Richmond, Vermont, has been charged with possession of child sexual abuse materials following an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Beane appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on September 8, 2025. At a detention hearing held the next day, prosecutors sought to have Beane detained pending trial due to his previous federal conviction for possession of similar materials and past violations of release conditions involving unauthorized contact with minors.
Magistrate Judge Doyle denied the government’s request and ordered Beane released under several conditions, including location monitoring and prohibitions against contact with children or visiting places where children are likely to be present.
According to court records, authorities began investigating in July 2025 after discovering child sexual abuse material being shared on a peer-to-peer network. The investigation traced the activity to Beane’s residence in Richmond. On September 8, Homeland Security Investigations and members of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant at his apartment and found a hand-held tablet containing illicit material.
The United States Attorney’s Office noted that these are allegations only and that “Beane is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.” Due to his prior conviction, if convicted again he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to 20 years; sentencing would ultimately be determined by the District Court according to federal guidelines.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher said: “I commend the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Merrimack County (New Hampshire) Sheriff’s Office, and the Vermont ICAC Task Force.” Drescher also thanked “the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the Richmond, Vermont Police Department for their assistance.”
Assistant United States Attorneys David Golubock and Jonathan Ophardt are prosecuting the case. Beane is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice that coordinates federal, state, and local resources to combat child exploitation online. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
