BELFAST, Maine — A repeat sex offender who pleaded guilty this week to class A gross sexual assault against a young girl was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison followed by 50 years of supervised release.
Adam Cross, 46, of Belmont was sentenced by Waldo County Superior Court Justice Robert Murray.
The Belmont man was a family friend of the 11-year-old girl he sexually abused over a period of four months in 2014, according to Waldo County Assistant District Attorney Neil McLean. A year and a half ago, police received information that Cross had been acting in an inappropriate manner with the girl in a public place. When a Waldo County Sheriff’s Office detective spoke to the child, she disclosed she had been sexually assaulted, according to Bangor Daily News archives.
Cross already was listed as a lifetime registrant on the Maine Sex Offender registry after being convicted of multiple counts of gross sexual assault in 1998. He was scheduled to have a jury trial this week on the most recent charge, but just before the jury was formally impaneled, the prosecutors and defense attorney Stephen Smith of Bangor came to a plea agreement, according to McLean.
The victim was present Friday for the sentencing hearing and had been in court on April 19 ready to testify about the assault if the case had gone to trial.
“The victim has been very brave and courageous throughout the process,” McLean said after the sentencing. “Today, her dad showed up and gave a brief statement explaining the loss of innocence and the effects it has had on her. It was also inspirational. It was intended to let [Cross] know she is going to persevere. She is going to go on and do well for herself.”
The victim’s family seems to be satisfied with the sentence, McLean said.
Cross will not begin serving time in prison until July 18 because his father is very ill. Until then he will remain under strict post-conviction bail.
According to the prosecutor, after Cross serves his 12-year prison sentence, he will be under supervised release until he is 108 years old. Conditions of his probation will include that he have no contact with girls under the age of 18 and have no direct or indirect contact with the victim or anyone in her immediate family. Cross also will need to engage in a sex offender evaluation and follow all treatments and recommendations, McLean said.