Vermont

Vt. Man Pleads Not Guilty to Charges Including Luring Child for Sex, Assault on Officers

Vermont man Michael Sumner pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted child luring and assault on a member of law enforcement

The Vermont man accused of trying to lure a child he met online for sex has pleaded not guilty to charges he faced in connection to the incident.

Michael Sumner, 33, appeared in court on Tuesday after he was arrested on two counts of attempted child luring and five counts of assault on a member of law enforcement. He was ordered to remain in jail without bail.

Police in South Burlington received a tip from a website that stated an adult allegedly tried to convince a child to give him photos. The tip prompted an undercover investigation in which officials posed as a 13-year-old.

Sumner allegedly believed he was speaking to a teen and agreed to meet at a hotel for sex on Friday. There, officers were waiting to make an arrest.

South Burlington Police Department Chief Shawn Burke said the defendant then used his car as a weapon.

"These were clear South Burlington police cars ordering him to stop, and he decided to smash through them instead," Burke said.

Five officers suffered minor injuries and four vehicles were damaged in the getaway attempt.

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