(October 1, 2008)--A federal grand jury in Vermont has indicted the uncle of a slain 12-year-old girl and a federal charge against the Texas man who was the slain youngster’s stepfather has been dropped.
Michael Jacques, 42, of Randolph, Vt. is charged with drugging, sexually assaulting and smothering Brooke Bennett with a plastic bag.
The grand jury also handed up "special findings" against Jacques making him eligible for the death penalty if convicted on the charge of kidnapping with death resulting.
It also indicted him on five child pornography counts, and charged that he coerced another girl, who's 14, into helping him with the abduction.
U.S. Attorney Thomas Anderson said federal authorities have dropped an obstruction of justice charge against Raymond Gagnon, 40, of San Antonio, the girl’s former stepfather who had been charged over the child's June 25 disappearance.
She was found dead July 2 in a shallow grave in Vermont.
However, Gagnon has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Texas on charges of production and transportation of child pornography.
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