WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A 40-year-old Hartland man pleaded guilty to sharing child pornography online and will serve at least two years in prison, acknowledging in court on Wednesday that he committed “a serious crime” and he is “very ashamed for the actions and embarrassment I have caused.”

James Quillia pleaded guilty in Windsor Superior Court to two counts of promoting sexual recording involving a child and was sentenced to 4 to 10 years in Vermont state prison, all suspended except for two years, and placed on probation for 15 years.

As part of his plea deal, charges of possession of child abuse material were dismissed, according to the plea agreement.

An internet crimes task force with the Vermont Attorney General’s Office started investigating Quillia in 2021 after receiving a tip that someone was uploading sexually explicit images of children on a Google account and on social media messaging app Snapchat, according the Vermont Attorney General’s Office.

Investigators discovered Quillia was behind both the Google and Snapchat accounts and searched his home and internet activity.

Quillia’s plea agreement includes stringent conditions, including complying with treatment programs and limits on possessing internet-capable devices.

Wearing a tie and reading from a statement, Quillia said he wanted to “express my sincere apologies for the act I committed. My behavior was not appropriate and did not reflect the behavior that’s expected from me,” adding that he took “full responsibility” and “with the help I need, promise this will never happen again.”

Quillia was ordered by the court to report for incarceration at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, Vt., on March 8.

John Lippman can be reached at jlippman@vnews.com. 

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