BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A New York man pleaded not guilty to charges of child exploitation of a Vermont minor earlier today.
According to the Vermont District Attorney’s Office, 28-year-old Jose Merino-Lopez is accused of communicating with a 14-year-old victim online starting in June of last year, eventually meeting up with her—crossing New York-Vermont lines to do so—and engaging in sexual intercourse with her in a park in Colchester.
He pleaded not guilty to two counts of child exploitation and is being detained during pretrial proceedings.