THOMASTON, Maine — A Thomaston man was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail at his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon after he was arrested on a charge of sexually assaulting a boy over an eight-year stretch.
James Prescott, 37, was arrested Tuesday night at about 10 p.m. and charged with one count of gross sexual assault, according to Knox County Sheriff Donna Dennison. He was taken to the Knox County jail in Rockland.
According to an affidavit filed by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Prescott went to the Damariscotta Police Department to confess that he had sexually assaulted a young boy from when the child was 8-years-old until the boy reached 15 or 16. The report did not say why Prescott decided to confess after these many years.
The sheriff’s office interviewed Prescott who repeated his confession, according to the report. The sheriff’s office then interviewed the victim, who is now 18-years-old, and he said that the sex assaults began when he was 2 and continued until he was 10.
Judge Patricia Worth set bail at $100,000 cash and ordered Prescott to have no contact with the victim, the victim’s family or any children younger than 18 if he is released on bail.
Prescott asked to have a court-appointed attorney who can then file a motion to reduce bail.
Detectives Donald Murray and Dwight Burtis arrested Prescott.
To reach a sexual assault advocate, call the Statewide Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Line at 800-871-7741, TTY 888-458-5599. This free and confidential 24-hour service is accessible from anywhere in Maine. Calls are automatically routed to the closest sexual violence service provider.
Correction: The victim in the alleged sexual assault was a boy.