BANGOR, Maine — A 27-year-old local man was arrested in September and charged with felony sexual abuse of a minor for having sex with a girl about half his age, Bangor police Sgt. Paul Edwards said Tuesday.
Deputy District Attorney Mike Roberts said Tuesday he offered Jaime L. Percival a plea bargain late last week in exchange for a guilty or no contest plea that would send him to prison for 18 months, with all but 60 days suspended.
Percival is expected to decide later this week whether he accepts the plea deal, which would require him to register as a sex offender, Roberts said.
Percival was arrested after an investigation by Bangor police Detective Brent Beaulieu that started in June. Beaulieu obtained a warrant for Percival’s arrest on Sept. 7 and Percival was picked up shortly after that and booked into Penobscot County Jail, Edwards said.
Percival, who was released on bail, was arrested again on Oct. 7 when he reportedly was following the victim, who was age 14 when the sexual abuse allegedly started but who has since turned 15, the sergeant said.
“The victim in this case was on the school bus,” Edwards said. “The victim saw the suspect drive by and drive by again later … like he was following the school bus.”
Percival was arrested because “we had probable cause that he was stalking the school bus,” the sergeant said.
Percival was charged with violating his bail conditions, which bar him from being around the victim, and for passing a stopped school bus, Edwards said. Percival again was arrested and taken to jail.
“He’s due for a disposition conference on Thursday,” when he is expected to announce whether he accepts the plea agreement, Roberts said.
The girl’s mother, who said Percival had been friends with a member of her family, said Tuesday she is upset about the possible plea agreement.
“He could be out in as little as two weeks” with good behavior, the Bangor woman said.
The mother said she feels forced to leave the area to protect her child, who is an honor roll student at Bangor High School and involved in a number of school activities.
“He’s not going to stop,” she said. “He hasn’t yet. Why would he when he gets out? We’re leaving the state.”
Percival could get up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 if he declines the plea agreement and is convicted in court of felony sexual abuse of a minor.
Why even bother if he’s only going to get 60 days? What a joke
….and what kind of ‘plea bargain’ did the child get?
So some guy molests young boys at a camp where hes a councilor and we get nice publicity photos and a bogus story about how he needs sympathy because he claims to be molested himself, but this guy has what was probably consensual sex with someone who is less than a year away from being considered able to consent by law and everyone condemns him. Am a reading these comment right?
So you wouldn’t mind if this or some other 27 year old guy had sex with your 14 year old daughter?
Lets be honest here, most teenage girls today are ridiculously mature for their ages, probably because of growth hormones being given to cows. I think its more a question of maturity than numbers, when I was 16 I had moved out and had a job supporting myself, by 18 I already had a kid and a house. On the other hand I have friends in their 20s who might as well be in middle school.
In the end if you look at the history of humanity and our social dynamics through time this whole 18 thing really looks a little ridiculous. I agree though that 14 is a little young and anything below that is not normal.
So the rape victim is responsible? It was and is RAPE as a 14 year old cannot give consent for a sexual relationship.
She wasn’t a ”rape victim” im sure she partook in the act under her own consent. rape is when one forces a sexual act, this most likely was not.
Well that is where you are WRONG.
In Maine, a person is guilty of sexual abuse of a minor if he/she engages in a sexual act with someone, other than his/her spouse, who is either age 14 or 15 and the actor is at least five years older. The penalty for a violation is less than one-year imprisonment. If the actor is at least 10 years older than the victim, the penalty is enhanced to up to five years’ imprisonment. (17-A § 254 (1)(A))
And as a 14 year old cannot give consent to a 27 year old that is not their “spouse” that is the classic definition of Statutory Rape.
haha yes but youre still stuck on these ”laws”, which today are becoming not worth anything.
And that law just highlights the idiocy, basically saying theres nothing wrong with the act as long as they pay the fees for the marriage license. which will undoubtedly result in more fees when the fire burns out a few weeks later and they need a divorce.
Is that the best argument you can come up with?
The law was written to protect underage boys and girls from predators. Not to provide a revenue stream to the state. And I doubt if marriage licenses for 14 and 15 year old boys or girls bring in much money to the state either.
The law itself states that there is nothing wrong with the act if they are married. Does marriage change a human in a way that it instantly matures them? I doubt it.
No, the law states it is a crime unless the person is your spouse.
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First you argue it is the victims fault.
Then you argue that she (the victim) can give consent.
Then you argue the state wants the money.
Now your argument is the law says it is OK if you are married so it is OK if you aren’t married.
~~~~~
Are you attracted to young teenage girls nope?
Yes, spouse, meaning married. otherwise spouse would simply mean domestic partner. The law implies that as long as you are married then its ok, so how about this scenario; A 14 year old is marred to a 30 year old but cheats on her husband with a 31 year old. Is there a difference between the 30 year old and the 31 year old?
All im doing is pointing out that the law says the age gap is ok, but only if the two are registered.
Its the same thing as driving un unregistered new car on the road. Technically the state thinks its fine to drive the car on the road but not until they get their cut.
The law (I know you don’t a) believe it, and b) is “antiquated”) defines what is considered to be the sexual abuse of a minor. It defines it based on age and the age difference between the victim and the predator. It then makes one exception based on the legal status of marriage.
Why would it be legal for a 14 yr old to be married? 13 in new hampshire. Oh that changes things . I do not approve of what this guy did I just can not make sense out of laws . I Get a ticket for no seat buckle but I can put a 2 yr old on a motorcycle What is more dangerous????
That is an excellent question and after checking the legal age a minor can marry in Maine with parental consent is…..16.
The victim was 14 years old when the offense first occurred.
17A § 254. Sexual abuse of minors1. A person is guilty of sexual abuse of a minor if:A. Having attained the age of 19 years, the person engages in a sexual act with another person, not the actor’s spouse, who has attained the age of 14 years but has not attained the age of 16 years, provided that the actor is at least 5 years older than the other person; or [1995, c. 104, §1 (amd).]B. [1989, c. 401. Pt. A, §5 (rp).]C. Having attained the age of 21 years, the person engages in a sexual act with another person, not the actor’s spouse, who has attained the age of 16 years but not the age of 18 years, and is a student enrolled in a private or public elementary, secondary or special education school, facility or institution and the actor is a teacher, employee or other official in the school district, school union, educational unit, school, facility or institution in which the student is enrolled. [1995, c. 104, §2 (new).]
Thats great now post one about marijuana.
You don’t like facts, do you? Do they make you feel bad for trying to justify the sexual abuse of a young girl?
nowhere in my comment did I say it was legal under the law. My point is that throughout human history 14 is pretty much old enough. its only been considered bad for the last hundred years. Not even a blink in our 500000 years on this planet.
Well sacrificing virgins was considered “OK” several centuries ago too but we don’t do that anymore now do we?
Slavery was “legal” in the U.S. just 150 years ago too but we don’t practice that anymore now do we?
And the military was segregated as little as 65 years ago but we no longer practice “separate but equal” now do we?
Did those virgins dress up and sneak into a club to meet and have sex with the people who sacrificed them?
Did the slaves put that they were 18 on their facebook accounts so the white man could see photos of them trying be attractive?
Do gays in the military go to the white house and have a sip of beer then pretend to be intoxicated because they think it will make president obama more comfortable making a move?
“Did those virgins dress up and sneak into a club to meet and have sex with the people who sacrificed them?”
There you go blaming the victim again. Rape and no matter how much you protest it, it is still rape.
~~~~~
“Did the slaves put that they were 18 on their facebook accounts so the white man could see photos of them trying be attractive?”
Ah but many of the underage slaves were raped by their white masters because they were “property”. It wouldn’t have mattered how old they were, they were “property” and if the master wanted to “take them” or “give” them to someone else, they did. Didn’t make it right then and it certainly isn’t right now.
~~~~~
“Do
gays in the military go to the white house and have a sip of beer then
pretend to be intoxicated because they think it will make president
obama more comfortable making a move?”
And gays in the military have nothing to do with the conversation. The youngest you can join the military is 17 with parental consent and 18 without.
~~~~~
You sure do seem preoccupied with underage sexual activity.
So if thy are married it magically is not rape anymore?
Again, im sure the black slaves did not hit on their master.
The military involves being handed a rifle and told to go into a warzone where you could be killed, hardly a pleasant experience for most. And then we have a law that says an 18 year old can do that but not have a beer.
I have no preoccupation im just saying that some people, myself included are quite mature at that age compared even to some 27 year olds.
Yeah, black slaves hit on their masters all the time. Just that one statement shows that your level of maturity is not even close to where you think it is.
I was a late bloomer……15. My friends were either lucky or liars. I have 4 girls, and i’ve raised them the best I can….and i’ll keep raising them,….but man, sex does happen. younger or older, sooner or later. Now you’ve read my past post, jd, pro cannabis, anti-skinner, but where is the cut off? Honostly , I don’t know. With a young family, i’m still learning every day.
We all do the best we can with our children. We all know that sex happens.
But the law in this case doesn’t punish the victim. It punishes the predator. And I use the word predator because if you are five years older than a 14 or 15 year old child you know that they are a child (no matter how “mature” they may look). And if you are 10 years or older you have no business dating a 14 or 15 year old under any circumstances.
Does it happen? Well judging by the almost weekly accounts in the BDN and other news outlets sure it does. Does that make it right? No it doesn’t.
We (s0ciety) make our children grow up to fast. A 14 or 15 look and act differently than they did even 10-15 years ago. We (parents) allow them to wear “cool” clothing so they “fit” in. Things like crop tops, low rider jeans, tight form fitting tops, etc… We allow them to wear “slogans” that say “sexy”, “hot”, etc… But none of this changes the fact that they are a child trying to live in an adult world and adults will take advantage of that fact.
Is
Mike Roberts on drugs? 60 days for felony sexual assault on a 14 year old child. I will admit to not having all of the information on this case, but based on the facts given to date this doesn’t even qualify as a “slap on the wrist”. By stalking the victim, in violation of the conditions of release, after he was released on bail Percival has shown he can not follow the rules. Perhaps the District Attorney has a good explanation for what seems to be a very soft punishment for a crime of this nature. What say you Chris?
The 60 days should just be for the violating conditions of release.
Exactly.
I read everyone’s posts and wonder where was all the outrage when the Hancock/Washington County DA asked and got 30 days in jail for a 31 year old female teacher who admitted molesting a 13 year old boy?
http://new.bangordailynews.com/2008/11/21/uncategorized/woman-31-gets-30-days-in-child-sex-abuse-case/
The DA all of the sudden played stupid and refused to prosecute a female child molester citing no physical evidence. When does that ever stop a prosecution against men? How did that 13 year old boy and his mother feel? No matter what anyone says, that boy has been harmed for life by the manipulation and abuse of that 31 year old
woman. The DA advocated for 30 days so she can quickly returned to her husband and children! What 31 year old man would be allowed near even his own children after admitting to molesting a child? A man would see hard prison time.
Consensual sex with a high school honor student is one thing but stalking is a totally diffrent and far more dangerous crime. I mean the girl is young but not mentally challanged to the point where she can’t consent. This stalking thing is the product of a very sick mind.
“This stalking thing is the product of a very sick mind.”
And so is your post attempting to justify a sexual relationship with a minor
This age of consent rule is merely a western custom which has come around since the last century. In truth it is a social custom. Not that I think it is a bad thing. With the long lives we live these days there is no need for early marrige. But nearly anywhere in the world stalking will get you cast out of society or worse.
Well unbalanced1 the slave trade of sex workers is legal in third world countries too. Would you like to see that in Western Civilization?
Oh, and the age of consent is not “merely a western custom”. It is codified into the criminal code to protect underage children from sexual exploitation and predators. You know, like the sexual slave trade found in some third world countries and the predators that ply the trade those predators that pay for it.
We also cant own a natural plant that is safer than alcohol…
Just a bit off topic, none responsive to my post and has nothing to do with the topic at hand.
I could have done without the insult. I was trying to define the diffrence in degree of seriousness between the mental state of sexual deviance and stalking. Not justify the sexual aspect of the crime. Terminal cancer with the brain tumors sometimes makes it difficult. Clarity of fhoufht sometimes slips away but the morality is still there.
Well when you know someone that has been the victim of child sexual abuse maybe you may well understand why people respond the way they do when people make “lite” of it.
A 14 year old girl cannot legally grant consent to someone who is 19 years old or older in Maine let alone some one 13 years her senior!
This is unacceptable!!! Lock him up and let this girl be a child for a few more years. How ignorant are some of our folks in the judicial system? How can these folks sleep at night?
I know some young girls are sexually active by the age of 14 some way before but the fact remains she is still a child he is an adult very nearly 30 and he is the one who should have known better. Why should he get a slap on the wrist, I feel he deserves what all others would get had they committed the same offense.
Maybe I (or a vast majority of us) am missing the main point here. She was 14…..he was 27. As a parent of a son and a daughter I would not allow either of them to date someone almost twice their age. Even if she agreed to the sex involved and or instigated it…..at 14 she can not make a rational decision. At 27 he is old enough to know right from wrong, legal vs. illegal and “should” be able to make an adult decision. Regardless of how you feel…….27 having sex with 14 is wrong…..morally, ethically and legally !!!
Have you read the paper every day??? Everyday or very close to it, there’s a sexual abuse case of one sort or another. It’s at epidemic portions to say the least. Bangor has probably the highest rate in the state per capita of them sex offenders. Why because Bangor has a federally funded homeless shelter… So what you say? That means when a sex offender comes out of jail/ prison with no place to go or any way to get there. Bangor is a likely option for them because there’s a shelter here that cannot turn them away. Add that with the high rate of mentally ill and addicted people. Meth clinics, rehabs, mental health facilities, and higher education schools….. It’s a breeding pot for every type. A situation even our own local government and police force cannot keep up with. They are under staffed to the hilt when you compare detectives and police personal to the amount of cases they have.