A jury returned a guilty verdict on a man Wednesday in federal court in Burlington on charges relating to attempting to lure middle school-age girls for sex.
Prosecutors said Michael E. Fisher, 39, attempted to lure girls in their early teens for sex over social media. He was arrested after arranging a meeting in South Burlington with a police officer posing online as a girl.
It was the second time Fisher faced charges related to luring minors. He was convicted of luring minors in 2003 in Vermont, and in 2010 was convicted in federal court of failing to register as a sex offender.
This week, Fisher was convicted on charges that stemmed from a March 2015 investigation, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Several girls 12 to 14 years old reported to their parents and to Burlington police that they received messages from Fisher in early 2015.
Working with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a member of the South Burlington police, Sgt. Andrew Chaulk, posed as a 13-year-old middle school student on Facebook and contacted Fisher.
Fisher sent the fictional student several messages over three days “pressing her to have sex with him,” according to the statement from U.S. Attorney Eric Miller’s office.
Fisher proposed meeting to have sex in a public bathroom at Dorset Street Park in South Burlington, sending her a link to the location marked on Google Maps. He promised to bring cigarettes, beer and a condom.
When Fisher arrived at the arranged time, Chaulk and a U.S. Secret Service agent, who was assisting in the investigation, arrested him.
He was found to be carrying cigarettes, beer and a condom, in addition to two cellphones he used to send Facebook messages.
During the trial this week, presided over by Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss, three middle school girls testified. Evidence included the Facebook messages Fisher sent to the undercover officer, along with messages to other young girls.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June. Fisher has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.
