[B]URLINGTON — A youth treatment center worker pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he groped a 15-year-old female patient and asked her to take nude photos of herself for money.
Police said that in addition to the alleged groping and the photo request, Earl Katon also bought alcohol, a vaporizer and a female sex toy for the minor, according to a press release.
Katon, 42, of Enosburg Falls worked at the Northeastern Family Institute in South Burlington, a nonprofit organization that serves families with children who struggle with emotional, behavioral and mental health issues. Police said they were tipped off about an incident involving Katon in late February.
Katon was arrested Wednesday and is being held on $5,000 bail at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in Swanton. He appeared by way of video Thursday at his arraignment in Chittenden Superior Court, where he denied charges of lewd and lascivious conduct, luring a child and attempted use of a child in sexual performance.
Chuck Myers, executive director of the National Family Institute, said he was unable to reveal how long Katon had worked for the group or what his specific role was at the facility, citing human resources concerns. He said the organization has been fully cooperative with police.
“This is the first time something like this has happened in an NFI facility in Vermont in 30 years,” Myers said.
Katon’s public defender, Jessica Brown, said he had one prior misdemeanor charge in 1999. She said he also works as a prep cook but is no longer employed by NFI.
Reached for comment after the arraignment, Brown said she will not be representing Katon any further and that he will be assigned a new attorney soon. Katon is being held partly because of social media posts that indicated he may have suicidal thoughts.
A police affidavit that describes in more detail the alleged crimes remained under seal throughout the day because the name of the underage victim was mistakenly included in the document.
“The complainant stated that the defendant told her that he had sex with other girls,” said prosecutor Zachary Chen, referencing the affidavit.
Should Katon make bail, he is prohibited from contacting the alleged victim or any other underage girls. He is also prohibited from using the internet or having a firearm.
Judge Nancy Waples said she was particularly concerned about a public safety issue after reading one of Katon’s Facebook posts.
Katon shared a video on March 5 titled “The 5 Dumbest Things Lawmakers Have Said About Guns,” and wrote a comment:
“I definitely need to get my human hunting license and a 30 round clip. Time to do some work…” Katon wrote.
He is scheduled to appear in court next on April 13.
