ROCKLAND, Maine — A 53-year-old Rockport man was sentenced Tuesday to seven months in jail after admitting he sexually assaulted two young girls last year.
Justice Daniel Billings accepted a sentence agreement worked out between the district attorney’s office and defense attorney Eric “Rick” Morse in the case against Mark W. Cayouette. Cayouette pleaded guilty last month to two counts of unlawful sexual contact.
The initial plea agreement reached last month called for five years with all but up to nine months suspended with the defense attorney able to argue for less time to be served. Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Baroody and Morse said Tuesday that in subsequent talks they agreed on the five years with all but seven months to be served.
Cayouette also will be placed on probation for 12 years and be a lifetime registrant on the Maine Sex Offender Registry list.
Baroody said the plea deal was reached because of Cayouette’s immediate acceptance of responsibility, the extensive treatment he has since undergone and his lack of any criminal record.
The two victims were sisters younger than 12 years old. Police were contacted after an older sibling told the mother about the assaults.
Cayouette told an officer that it was tickling that had gotten out of control, and he admitted he did it for sexual pleasure, according to an affidavit filed by police. The Rockport man told police he was relieved they had caught him.
He was arrested July 19 and has since been free on bail.