ROCKLAND, Maine — A judge rejected Friday afternoon a request by a Cushing man, accused of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl, to attend a family reunion where children would be present.
Judge Beth Dobson issued her ruling after a brief hearing in Knox County Unified Court in the case against Timothy Sanford, who was arrested in May and later indicted on a single count of felony unlawful sexual contact.
Sanford, 49, pleaded not guilty on Friday at his arraignment. He remains free on bail.
Sanford’s attorney, Jeremy Pratt, argued for the judge to allow his client’s bail conditions to be changed to allow him to be at the family reunion. One condition bans him from having any contact with children. Pratt said Sanford’s aunt agreed to supervise him at the reunion.
The defense attorney maintained that it was important for people to stay connected with their families.
Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Baroody argued against the change, saying that at the reunion, where as many as 70 people may attend, it would be difficult for Sanford to be supervised to make sure he has no contact with children.
Dobson agreed, saying the risk to changing the bail condition was too great to allow.
An investigation in the case began in late March when the child’s pediatrician contacted the child protection division of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, according to an affidavit filed in Rockland Unified Court by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. The girl told the doctor that Sanford would play a tickle game with her and that she did not like it, according to the affidavit.
Sanford denied the sexual assault allegation and agreed to take a polygraph test, administered by the sheriff’s office, which was inconclusive, according to the affidavit. Also, according to the court documents, when the girl was on the witness stand during a hearing on a protection-from-abuse request filed by her mother, the youngster said she could not remember what had happened and the protection order was not issued.
The girl later told an employee of Spurwink Services, however, that Sanford would touch her private areas during the game. Spurwink Services is a nationally accredited nonprofit organization that provides a broad range of mental health and educational services for children, adolescents, adults and families.
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.