Man Charged With Sexually Assaulting Girl In Vernon

VERNON, CT — A 33-year-old man has been charged in Vernon with third-degree sexual assault and illegal sexual contact with a victim younger than 16 by Vernon police after a young girl registered a complaint, a warrant shows.

James Lanier was arrested on a warrant Friday and was to appear in court later in the day, police said.

The girl made the complaint to Vernon police Thursday, according to the warrant. When police went to her residence, she typed on a tablet, "I need to talk to you ... He is raping me," referring to Lanier, according to the warrant.

According to the warrant, the girl said Lanier had been touching her inappropriately, made her touch him inappropriately and then had sex with her as she slept. She said he had sex with her several times, according to the warrant.

After being interviewed by Vernon police Thursday, the girl was taken to Connecticut Children's Medial Center for evaluation, according to the warrant.

The girl's age was redacted from the warrant.

An arrest warrant was then secured for Lanier, police said.