WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. -
Frank Meyer, 39 of CT and Brett Bartolotta, 42 of Cavendish, Vt. were arrested and charged in a White River Junction courthouse Thursday with aggravated sexual assault and slave trafficking.
It's a situation that disturbed some.
"I was extremely shocked he didn't seem like that type of person," said Patrick Spaulding.
Spaulding lives next door to Bartolotta and says he's a friendly person.
"He helps out anybody, anyway that he can," said Spaulding.
State police however paint a different picture.
They say Bartolotta friended a 12-year-old boy, and forced him to perform sex over the next 12 years.
Inside a condo in Ludlow, Vermont is where police say it all began when the young boy was first offered money in exchange for sex.
Police say Bartolotta introduced the victim to Meyer, who also gave the boy money and gifts for sex.
It didn't happen just once; police say the minor had sex with Meyer upwards of 400 times and double that amount with Bartolotta.
And the encounters got worse over time.
Court papers show the adults escalated to bondage and used sex toys.
But the victim told no one until last month when police say, at age 24 he finally told his mom.
"When you're victimized at such a young age you're probably not going to all of a sudden become aware at the age of 16 or 18 that this is not in your best interest," said Vermont State Police Detective Sgt. Barbara Zonay
Despite the serious charges, Spaulding can't wrap his mind around how this could happen here.
"Do you believe any of these allegations?" said FOX44/ABC22.
"Right now no," said Spaulding.
Police say the victim also told them others were involved, but they haven't been able to verify that.
It could be kids, it could be adults.
They're working with police in Connecticut to figure out also if the Vermont boy traveled there.
One other note, Bartolotta has a 5 year old child.
Police are investigating whether he or she was abused.
Meyer and Bartolotta posted bail and are due back in court later this month.
