RUTLAND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on August 27, 2026, Joshua Burbank, 40, of Johnson, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 100 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. Burbank previously pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse materials involving prepubescent minors.
According to court records, in 2021, law enforcement was provided a laptop by Burbank’s family member after the family member discovered child sexual abuse materials on the laptop. A search of the laptop confirmed it contained files that depicted child sexual abuse, including a video of a man sexually assaulting a toddler. In 2024, Burbank was served with a Relief from Abuse Order and arrested on new criminal charges. At the time of this 2024 arrest, Burbank possessed a cellphone (in violation of his state conditions of release). This cellphone was searched and also found to contain child sexual abuse material.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Newport, Vermont Police Department, and the Vermont State Police. “The collection of heinous depictions of child sexual abuse causes significant and continuing harm to the victims depicted in those images. Those who seek out such imagery also pose a significant risk of danger to children. I am extremely grateful to the law enforcement officers whose work enabled us to hold Burbank accountable for his conduct.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra. Burbank was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.