Jacques Is Arraigned
On Sex Abuse Changes
By Cornelia Cesari
And Herald Staff

The investigation surrounding the disappearance of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett of Randolph took a frightening new turn when her uncle, Michael Stephen Jacques, was arraigned on charges of repeated aggravated sexual assault on a Randolph area minor-not Brooke Bennett.

Relatives of the young Randolph alleged victim, and of Brooke, huddled together for comfort in the front row of the Orange County Courthouse Monday afternoon. Waiting members of the press exchanged puzzled looks, unsure as to what might unfold. The court records had not yet been released.

Finally, Michael Jacques, his small frame handcuffed, shackled, and surrounded by officers of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, shuffled in the side door.

The "details that led to Jacques' arrest were uncovered by investigators assigned to investigate" Bennett's disappearance, according to a Vermont State Police press release. Law enforcement officers from several states searched his Randolph property as he sat in the courtroom.

Jacques remained silent, blinking as public defender Brooke Dingledine entered his plea of innocence and argued for his release on bail, citing his family ties to the area, property owned and steady employment in West Lebanon. She said that Jacques' family is currently "under a great deal of stress" and that he wants to be available to continue supporting them.

State's attorney Will Porter argued that the defendant has a history of violence, including a 1993 conviction for kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault, for which he served four and a half years, and a 1997 violation of probation. He declared that "no series of conditions can assure the safety of the juvenile complainant," who is a cooperating witness. He disclosed that the personal safety of the child had been threatened and the alleged victim was subjected to repeated sexual acts over a period of five years.

Family members reacted visibly as Judge Theresa DiMauro agreed that the charges are serious but stated that the court "cannot find today" adequate evidence to hold Jacques without bail. Bail was set at $250,000 while the judge emphasized that the court would reconsider if so requested by the state as evidence in the case develops.

Jacques needs only to post a surety of 10%, or $25,000, to be released. As yet, he remains incarcerated at Springfield Correctional Facility.

When Dingledine requested an exception to the conditions of release-allowing Jacques to leave Orange County for employment purposes-Judge DiMauro reacted, "Does this mean you expect him to post bail?"

Making the police testimony weaker, the judge indicated, is that fact that the testimony given by the alleged victim and "corroborating observations" by her mother is not sworn.

Years of Abuse

The affidavit filed by Det. Sgt. William M. Jenkins was a sordid account of severe sexual abuse against a young relative, now 14, which began when she was nine years old and continued until a few weeks ago.

The affidavit also said the girl was told that the "acts" were requirements of a shadowy organization called the Breckenridge Program, which had chosen to "put her in the program." She said that her understanding was that she was enrolled with three other girls and that sex acts had to be performed under penalty of death.

Required sex acts continued weekly for years, and the "Breckenridge program" rated her on her cooperation.

"She expressed for some reason she was not killed and did not know how she was alive," the affidavit said. "The Breckinridge program had been part of her life since she could remember." She said she had met two men, besides Jacques, who were supposedly part of the program.

In later briefings, Police Director James Baker cautioned against the assumption that a "sex ring" was operating in the area, indicating that what the victim was told may have been a fiction.

"We're not prepared to say if there is a ring or there's not a ring at this point in time," Baker said. "We're still researching evidence." He noted that no other victims had been located.

Previous Conviction

Orange County has prosecuted Michael Jacques before, in 1992. At that time, charges of sexual assault and simple assault were dismissed by the state but Jacques pleaded no contest to kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault.

Those charges, according to research by WCAX-TV, resulted from a brutal case in Rutland when Jacques enticed an 18-year-old woman who worked for him into a car, shackled her, and raped her several times over a period of hours, hinting that she would be killed if she complained.

On July 12, 1993, he was sentenced to serve six to ten years, but he was released after four and a half years for good behavior in prison.

In 1997 Jacques was charged with violation of probation and ordered to serve four Sundays with the White River P & P Community Restitution Service Unit. An April 4, 2003 petition for discharge from probation was denied. In November of 2004, another discharge motion was denied by Judge Amy Marie Davenport. Jacques was discharged from probation on Dec. 5, 2006 by Judge M. Patricia Zimmerman based on satisfactory completion of terms of his probation, including alcohol/sex offender treatment.