On Thursday, February 15, 2018, two men were sentenced to prison in Grafton County Superior Court in two separate cases involving the attempted solicitation of minors for sex. Erik E. Polson, age 73, of Chelsea, Vermont was sentenced to 2-4 years in the New Hampshire State Prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Felonious Sexual Assault. He was also sentenced to 3 ½-7 years, all suspended, in State Prison for Trafficking a Victim Under 18, after pleading guilty to that charge. Polson was arrested on 8/10/17 when he arrived in Lebanon to meet a 15-year-old female.
James M. Taylor, age 26, of Quechee, Vermont, was sentenced to 1-2 years in the New Hampshire State Prison for Certain Uses of Computer Services Prohibited and 12 months in the House of Correction, all suspended, for Child Endangerment. Taylor was arrested on 11/1/17 after arriving in Lebanon to meet a 15-year-old female.
Both investigations were initiated by the Lebanon Police Department, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigators, who were operating in an undercover capacity to address the ongoing, and widespread, threats to children in our community who utilize the internet. The Lebanon Police Department is an ICAC affiliate and committed to ferreting out criminal behavior on the internet directed toward children.
Authorized by: Chief Richard R. Mello Date: 2/16/2018