UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
District of Vermont

NEW HAMPSHIRE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD EXPLOITATION CHARGE

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Carlo Dobrich, 37, of Claremont, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty today to a single-count Information charging him with traveling interstate with the intent of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. Dobrich entered his plea before the Honorable J. Garvan Murtha, United States District Judge, in Brattleboro, Vermont.

According to court documents, on December 18, 2006, Chief Douglas Robinson of the Norwich Police Department logged onto an Internet chat room posing as a 13-year old girl named “Connie.” While logged on, Connie was contacted by someone using the screen name of “Smokejumper,” later identified as Dobrich. During the ensuing Internet chat, Dobrich questioned “Connie” extensively about her sexual experience and described in graphic detail the sexual acts he wanted to “teach” her. The two arranged to meet at a restaurant. Dobrich left his residence in Claremont, New Hampshire, and traveled across state lines to Norwich, Vermont to meet “Connie.” After his arrest, Dobrich admitted that he was at the restaurant to meet Connie and that he intended to engage in sexual activity with her.

Dobrich faces up to 30 years in prison, a period of supervised release of not less than five (5) years and up to life, a fine of $250,000, and a $100 special assessment. Dobrich will also be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The actual sentence will be determined by the court with reference to the advisory federal sentencing guidelines. Dobrich will be sentenced after the completion of a pre-sentence investigation and report by the United States Probation Office.

U.S. Attorney Anderson 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. Attorneys' 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.

The case was investigated by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Norwich Police Department. Mr. Dobrich is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Robert Fellrath. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Barbara Masterson.