BARRE, Vt. -
A 20 year old man is facing 35 years behind bars for sexually assaulting a child.
Jonathan Amell of Barre is accused of having sex with two 15 year old girls.
There are two similar charges here that happened about a year apart.
Jonathan Amell told me that this is all a mix-up. He pleaded not guilty in court today.
---
If convicted, 20 year old Jonathan Amell would not be a free man until he's 55. He's accused of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child and sexual assault. Amell talked with me before he pleaded not guilty in court.
"I've already been attacked and buried many times because of stupid stuff that has been said," Amell said.
In November, 2011, police say Amell sexually assaulted a 15 year old girl. The court papers reveal a lot of "he said, she said," he says the girl came on to him but they never had sex. She says the opposite, and that after saying no to sex, she found herself naked and on the ground. Police say Amell's DNA matched the DNA found on the victim's underwear.
"The weight of the evidence does appear to be strong," the judge said.
A year later, police say Amell committed the crime again, and was accused last December of having sex with another 15 year old girl. This time police say alcohol was involved, but again, they say it was sex without consent.
"The allegations are serious; they allege crimes of violence against minors. The state would argue that the evidence of guilt is great in both cases," Deputy State's Attorney Jason Hart said.
Both cases are still pending and again, Amell has not been convicted of either crime. I asked him about the prison time he's potentially facing.
"I'm sure if you asked him or him if they were going to do 20 years, I'm sure they'd say it would suck," he said.
Jonathan Amell was released on conditions. One of those says he must always be with his mom when in public. Prosecutors had a problem with this though because his mom, Toni Lawrence is accused of giving false information to police. They say she lied about where Amell was on the night in question.
