by VDC staff

A New York man wanted on a Vermont charge of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child was arrested at the Canadian border last week, Vermont State Police said.

Ryan Ouimet, 28, of Averill Park, New York, was taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol at the New York-Canada border at about 6 PM Sept. 25 as a fugitive from justice. Extradition to Vermont is pending.

The Vermont investigation began Aug. 25, when New York State Police investigators notified Vermont detectives about a disclosure made by a 12-year-old. New York authorities had been conducting a separate investigation of Ouimet involving the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old, Vermont State Police said.

The 12-year-old told investigators that Ouimet had inappropriately touched them Aug. 9 at the Dorset Quarry on Route 30 in Dorset, a popular swimming and cliff-jumping spot.

Vermont detectives said their investigation established probable cause to charge Ouimet with lewd and lascivious conduct with a child. A hold-without-bail arrest warrant was issued Sept. 18, with extradition authorized from New York and the New England states.

Police said the investigation remains active and asked anyone with information to contact Detective Sgt. Lauren Ronan at 802-442-5421.

In another Dorset-area sex offense investigation, Matthew B. Robertson, 34, of Salem, New York, has been cited on three counts of disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent.

State police allege Robertson created a fake social media account to obtain sexually explicit material and then shared it with other social media accounts without the consent of the people depicted. Victims were identified in Vermont and New York, police said.

Robertson was cited Sept. 24 to appear Oct. 19 in Bennington Criminal Division. He was released on his own recognizance.

In Craftsbury, Vermont State Police arrested Jack Sawyer following an investigation into a burglary at Sterling College. Police said search warrants were executed at several properties associated with Sawyer and several stolen items were recovered and returned to the college.

Sawyer was processed at the Derby Barracks and lodged at Northern State Correctional Facility on $1,500 bail. He was cited to appear Sept. 29 in Orleans County Superior Court. Police said some Sterling College property remains missing.

And in Sheldon, state police and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation are investigating the dumping of a large amount of trash, scrap metal and other waste along the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail.

VTrans workers discovered the waste Sept. 28 near Sweet Hollow Road. Police said most of it appears to have come from adjoining properties and was placed along the edge of the trail.

Authorities said the dumping poses safety and environmental concerns and will require substantial cleanup. Anyone with information is asked to contact Vermont State Police or the Agency of Natural Resources.