By VDC staff
Following a two-day trial, a Caledonia County jury has found Jonathan Fox, 57, of Barre guilty of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct with a Child.
After the verdict the Court, Judge Heather Gray presiding, continued Fox on his conditions of release pending sentencing. The charge of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct with a Child carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The Caledonian-Record reported today that “Fox testified in his own defense on Thursday. He told jurors that the contact he had with the child was not lewd or with any sexual intent and that any contact was within his established role as a caregiver for the child. At the time of the offense in September 2021, Fox was working for a social services agency serving as a caretaker. Prior to the alleged incident, Fox had looked after the child on 10 occasions, including once overnight.
“The lewd and lascivious conduct charge was filed after the child’s guardian spotted him on a home Amazon “Blink” camera system inappropriately touching the child while the child was undressed. The victim was non-verbal and had needs that required near-24-hour assistance and aid with almost all daily tasks.”
The charge brought against Mr. Fox was the result of a criminal investigation conducted by the Vermont State Police, the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit, and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC).
In light of the verdict, Attorney General Charity Clark offered the following statement:
“Every child deserves a safe childhood. I am grateful to our law enforcement partners who assisted in the pursuit of justice, and to the jury who carefully considered the facts and the law in this matter and delivered a verdict.”
The Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $1,497,780 for Federal fiscal year FY 2026. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $499,260 for FY 2026, is funded by the State of Vermont.
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