Racing at 125 MPH/ Fiery fatality victim ID’d/ Cop taser charges dismissed

Robert Charbonneau, 50, of Burlington was arraigned Thursday, May 16 on one felony count of Luring a Child. The charge stems from an undercover investigation conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC) and the Hartford Police Department.

Charbonneau allegedly initiated contact online via Kik messenger with a Hartford investigator posing as a 14-year-old minor and engaged in sexual conversations, attempting to arrange a meeting for sexual acts.

Charbonneau pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Criminal Division, with Judge Navah Spero presiding.

The court ordered conditions of release prohibiting Charbonneau from contacting minors and restricting his internet access.

VT-ICAC specializes in investigating child sexual exploitation over the internet, including the production and distribution of child sexual abuse materials. The task force provides forensic examination services, technical assistance, law enforcement training, and public education and outreach.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) serves as the nation’s centralized reporting system for online exploitation of children.

Reports of suspected online enticement, child sexual molestation, abuse materials, child sex tourism, trafficking, unsolicited obscene materials, and misleading online content can be made to NCMEC’s 24-hour call center at 1-800-843-5678 or through their cyber tip website.

Charges dismissed against repeat felon who tased cop – The Caledonian County prosecutor has dismissed misdemeanor assault charges against John Stelzl, 38, of Morrisville, who tased St. Johnsbury police officer George Johnson with his own taser after Johnson apprehended him for jaywalking Friday, May 10. 

Stelzl has a lengthy police record including multiple felony convictions and charges of assault on a police officer. The Caledonian-Record reported the dismissal this morning and said State’s Attorney Jessica Zaleski was not available for comment. 

Racing interrupted by police – On May 16 Berlin police were monitoring traffic on Vermont Route 62 when they observed two vehicles west bound (downhill direction) traveling at a high rate of speed. One of the involved vehicles was first clocked on Lidar going 125 mph in a 50-mph zone and the other vehicle was then clocked on Lidar going 119 mph in a 50-mph zone.  It appeared as the vehicles were racing each other, police say. 

Upon a roadside investigation, the vehicle that was clocked at the higher rate of speed was identified as Branden Ward of Barre Town and the other operator was identified as a Youthful Offender age 18 of Barre City. Both were processed for Excessive Speed and cited into court in late June to answer to the charges.

Highway fatal victim identified – a 23-year-old man has been identified as the victim who died in a fiery single car crash on I-89 in Georgia May 5.

Police say Elijah Cameron of  St. Albans died after his 2024 Chevy Colorado truck rolled over and was fully engulfed in fire in the median of the Interstate. Cameron was the driver and lone occupant.