BANGOR, Maine — A Hampden man facing eight sex charges made his first court appearance Monday at the Penobscot Judicial Center.
Earl Huntley, 23, is charged with one count each of gross sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a minor, both Class A crimes, and possession of sexually explicit material, a Class C crime. He also is charged with five counts of unlawful sexual contact, a Class B crime.
Huntley was not asked to enter pleas to the charges because he has not yet been indicted by the Penobscot County grand jury, which next meets June 24.
Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy said Monday after Huntley’s first court appearance that the victims in the case are 11- and 5-year-old sisters. While their mother was serving a jail sentence, they spent time at the home Huntley shares with his mother, the prosecutor said.
Huntley sexually assaulted both girls and photographed the 5-year-old naked and downloaded the picture to his iPad, Almy said.
Police began investigating after Huntley’s classmates at Job Corps in Bangor became concerned about his sexual interest in young children, the prosecutor said. Huntley also allegedly showed classmates child pornography on his iPad.
District Court Judge Bruce Jordan set bail at $25,000 cash or $50,000 surety, which was jointly recommended by the Penobscot County District Attorney’s Office and Jeremiah Haley, the Bangor attorney who represented Huntley at Monday’s hearing.
Conditions include no contact with the alleged victims, their mother or potential witnesses. Huntley also is forbidden from having contact with any children under the age of 18 and must abide by an 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew if he posts bail.
Huntley was arrested Thursday by Hampden police and taken to the Penobscot County Jail, according to jail personnel.
If convicted of the most serious Class A crimes, Huntley faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.
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.