SKOWHEGAN, Maine — A local man is facing multiple sex assault charges after a search warrant resulted in his arrest on Friday, according to police.
Adam Cates, 27, is facing charges of sexual abuse of a minor, a Class C crime, sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class B offense, and possession of sexually explicit material, a Class D offense, a statement from Skowhegan police read.
During the course of an investigation conducted by Skowhegan police and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit, Cates is alleged to have been having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl in Skowhegan.
Police had received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding child exploitation images being sent on Facebook, the statement said. Additional information unveiled that the crimes were occurring in the Skowhegan area.
Skowhegan police managed to trace the IP address to that of Cates, and a search warrant resulted in his arrest, the statement said.
Images depicting sexually explicit material involving the victim were recovered at the scene.
Cates is being held without bail at the Somerset County Jail pending a court appearance.
If convicted, Cates faces up to 10 years in prison on the Class B charge, five years on the Class C count and an additional year on the Class D offense.
