NEWPORT — A Barton man was sentenced to ten years probation after pleading guilty to four felony counts of Promotion of Child Pornography.
According to documents filed with the court, Colton Chenard of Barton, obtained and distributed child pornography over the internet using peer-to-peer file sharing programs.
Computers connect to peer-to-peer networks via publicly available software that permits them to trade pictures and movies, including those containing child pornography, with other computers all around the world.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, Vermont State Police, Newport Police Department, Burlington Police Department, and Vermont’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Chenard was sentenced to 3 to ten years imprisonment, all suspended, and was placed on probation for ten years.
While on probation, Chenard will be subject to special conditions of probation designed for sex offenders, including conditions that require him to successfully complete sex offender treatment and limit his access to the internet and to children under the age of 16.
Chenard will also be required to register as a sex offender.
