FORMER NORTHFIELD MAN ARRAIGNED ON CHILD EXPLOITATION AND OBSCENITY CHARGES

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Joseph Schmidt, 32, formerly of Northfield, VT, pleaded not guilty today in United States District Court to federal child exploitation and obscenity charges. Schmidt was arrested in July in Massachusetts and has been detained since his arrest. At the conclusion of today’s arraignment, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jerome J. Niedermeier ordered that Schmidt continue to be detained pending trial.

Court documents reveal that on July 19, 2007, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Schmidt charging him with using the internet in November 2005 to attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity with him. The indictment also charges that in December 2005, Schmidt sent obscene photographs to a minor via the internet.

The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty. If convicted, Schmidt faces a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years in prison, a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Wendy L. Fuller has been assigned to prosecute the case. Schmidt is represented by Assistant Federal Defender Robert Fellrath, Esq.

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.