A former Vermont State Police trooper, Todd Chisholm, pleaded guilty to lewd and lascivious behavior after being accused of sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend’s daughter over several years. The victim, now 31, identified as K.B., reported that Chisholm began grooming her in 2002 at the age of 9 by making inappropriate comments and aggressive sexual advances. She alleged that the assaults continued in secret until she was about 20, when she realized the behavior was wrong and reported it to the police. Chisholm’s wife confronted him about the assault in 2018 and ordered him to leave their home after catching him inappropriately close to their own daughter.
Chisholm admitted to detectives that he was “a piece of shit” and should be dead after being confronted about the assault. He also reportedly confessed to a pastor and multiple other individuals, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest. Chisholm, who was a state trooper for 13 years until 2001, accepted a plea deal that offered him a sentence of 30 days in prison, with the rest of the four to five years suspended, and six years of probation. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 3, and he currently resides in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Chisholm’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment on the situation.
The victim, K.B., met Chisholm while he was having an affair with her mother from 1998 to 1999. Chisholm reportedly told K.B. that she was beautiful and that he couldn’t wait until she got older, initiating the grooming process. The sexual advances progressed in 2002 when K.B. was 9 years old, leading to allegations of sexual assault in subsequent years, including an incident in 2003 when Chisholm assaulted her with his daughter asleep in the same room. Chisholm continued the assaults in secret, treating K.B. as his lover when he was around and telling her they would be together when she was older.
Chisholm’s behavior toward K.B. was described as manipulative and abusive, with him telling her to keep their interactions a secret and making her feel like she had no choice but to comply. It wasn’t until K.B. was in her twenties that she recognized the behavior as wrong and reported it to the authorities. Chisholm’s wife’s confrontation with him in 2018 led to his removal from their home, and subsequent interviews with witnesses and a confession to a pastor resulted in his arrest. Chisholm’s acceptance of a plea deal for lewd and lascivious behavior with a child marked a conclusion to the legal proceedings against him, with a sentencing hearing pending in July.
The case involving Chisholm highlights the serious nature of sexual assault and abuse, particularly when perpetrated by individuals in positions of authority and trust. The victim, K.B., showed courage in coming forward and holding Chisholm accountable for his actions, despite the prolonged nature of the abuse and manipulation she experienced. The legal outcome of the case, with Chisholm facing a minimal prison sentence and probation, raises questions about the adequacy of accountability in cases of child sexual abuse, especially when involving individuals with law enforcement backgrounds. Chisholm’s guilty plea and sentencing serve as a reminder of the importance of addressing and preventing cases of sexual assault, particularly those involving vulnerable individuals such as children.
