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CBP at Highgate Springs Intercepts Alleged Child Sex Offender

Release Date
Wed, 02/22/2017

HIGHGATE SPRINGS, Vt. — On Monday, February 14, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Port of Highgate Springs intercepted a 25-year-old, male, United States Citizen who was charged with sexual assault of a minor.

CBP officers at the port encountered Jacob Burnham after he was found inadmissible into Canada due to a previous criminal arrest. Burnham was traveling with an unrelated 13-year-old, female passenger, also a United States Citizen, and was referred for a secondary inspection. During the course of the CBP secondary exam, CBP officers verified the travelers’ identities and ages, and discovered evidence of a sexual relationship between the two.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont State Police responded to the port to begin an investigation, which resulted in the Vermont State Police arresting Burnham for sexual assault of a minor.  The female was released to the custody of a family member.

“CBP officers are committed to protecting our country as they enforce hundreds of U.S. laws at our ports of entry,” said Acting St. Albans Area Port Director Michael Fox.  “This arrest was the direct result of skilled and dedicated officers identifying and intercepting an individual who posed a threat to our nation’s families and communities.”

Criminal charges are merely allegations.  Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

For more on CBP’s border security mission at our nation’s ports of entry, please visit the Port Security section of the CBP website.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021