Montpelier man charged after allegedly raping 13-year-old
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MONTPELIER — A man who police say had sex with a 13-year-old girl has been charged with two felonies.
Thomas Bratton Gathercole, 19, faces two counts of lewd conduct with a minor, court records show.
In August, Montpelier police received a report from a woman who said her 13-year-old daughter had been involved in sexual acts with Gathercole, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Officers scheduled a forensic interview with the victim. During the interview, she told a child therapist Gathercole had sex with her in a van parked near a friend’s house, the affidavit says. Gathercole again made sexual contact with the victim two weeks later, she said.
Police later interviewed Gathercole.
During that interview, he reportedly admitted to having sex with the victim and making sexual contact with her at a later date.
He was arrested and booked in October, then placed on house arrest, according to court records.
Though Gathercole has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.
If he is found guilty, Gathercole could face up to life in prison.
He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Judge Todd Garbett on Dec. 20.