WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A 41-year-old Woodstock man pleaded not guilty to multiple felony and misdemeanor charges of luring a child and possession of child pornography last week in Windsor Superior Court.
James Townsend faces one felony count of luring a child, five felony counts of possession of sexual abuse materials and one misdemeanor count of possession of child sexual abuse materials.
An investigation conducted by members of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force last October led to the charges being brought against Townsend, the Vermont Attorney General’s Office stated in a news release last Friday.
The state alleges that between June and October 2025, Townsend attempted to lure a 9-year-old child to engage in sex acts and possessed child sexual abuse material of children ranging in ages from 5 to 12 years old.
Meeting with police in May of this year for processing, Townsend allegedly told police that his “alleged attraction to children … was still an issue and said something to the effect that ‘he still liked talking and engaging with young girls,’ ” according to the affidavit in support of the charges.
“Furthermore, Townsend appeared ignorant to the child safety concerns at hand and appeared more concerned with self-interests,” the affidavit states.
A voicemail left for Townsend’s attorney, Joaquin Padilla of White River Junction-based law firm Marsicovetere and Levine, was not immediately returned on Tuesday.
All six felony charges against Townsend carry a penalty of up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. The one misdemeanor count he is facing carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, a fine of $5,000, or both.
Vermont court records show that Townsend has multiple prior convictions including assault and sex crime charges dating back to 2011 and multiple pending cases of voyeurism, stalking and lewd and lascivious conduct from 2022 and 2024.
He is not on the Vermont Sex Offender Registry.
After Townsend pleaded not guilty to the seven charges in Windsor Superior Court last week, Judge Elizabeth Mann ordered conditions of release restricting his contact with and access to minors and the internet.
Townsend’s next court date is a status conference scheduled for July 20 at 2 p.m.
