CONCORD – In a chilling turn of events, 38-year-old Brandon Couture from Groveton, New Hampshire, has been arrested on federal child exploitation charges. The grim allegations against Couture include one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Couture was apprehended on June 13, 2024, and is set to appear in federal court in Concord later today. According to the charges, Couture traveled from New Hampshire to Vermont, where he reportedly picked up a young female survivor and drove her back to New Hampshire with the intent to commit sexual crimes against her.
The severity of the crime is underscored by the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison that Couture faces, with a potential life sentence. He also risks a fine of $250,000 and a minimum of five years of supervised release, as dictated by the charging statute. Sentences are ultimately determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI led the investigation into this case, with invaluable support from the Northumberland Police Department and the Essex County, Vermont Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is handling the prosecution of Couture.
Despite the serious allegations contained in the charging documents, Couture is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide effort by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information on this initiative, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
RELATED: Groveton Man Charged in Child Exploitation Case
Related Federal Cases
- Groveton Man Charged in Child Exploitation Case · New Hampshire
- Utah Man Gets 30 Months for Child Porn · Utah
- Groveton Predator Sentenced to Over 4 Years for Sexually Abusing Teen · New Hampshire
- Groveton Predator Brandon Couture Gets Over 4 Years for Child Sex Abuse · New Hampshire
- Vermont Man Pleads Guilty to Luring Teens Online · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- State: New Hampshire
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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