ROCKLAND, Maine — A Rockland man remains in jail after his arrest Friday afternoon on charges that he sexually assaulted two young girls.
Matthew Boegel, 18, was arrested by Rockland police and charged with two counts of gross sexual assault.
Rockland police received information on Sept. 24 of the incident that allegedly occurred Aug. 3 at a pool party in Rockland. Police interviewed the two girls — ages 12 and 13 — who offered details of the alleged assault.
The date of the offense was initially reported to police in early July and when they interviewed Boegel he admitted to the sexual assaults on the girls, according to an affidavit filed in Knox County Unified Court by Rockland police. Boegel was given a juvenile summons for the alleged offenses because he was believed to have been 17 when they occurred.
But further investigation revealed the alleged assaults occurred Aug. 3, after Boegel turned 18 years old and was legally an adult. He was then arrested on the gross sexual assault counts and taken to the Knox County Jail in Rockland.
Judge Susan Sparaco set bail Monday afternoon at $2,500 cash during Boegel’s initial court appearance. She also prohibited him from having contact with children 14 years old or younger.
Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Baroody had asked for $10,000 cash bail and no contact with anyone under 18.
Defense attorney James Mason asked for Boegel to be released on unsecured bail. He also argued against the prosecution’s request for no contact with anyone younger than 18, noting that Boegel recently turned 18 and had friends who were not yet 18. Mason said the sexual contact between Boegel and the girls was consensual.