If you or someone you know needs resources or support related to sexual violence, contact the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s 24/7 hotline at 800-871-7741.
ROCKLAND, Maine — A Knox County man received what may be the longest sentence imposed for a non-murder case when a judge sentenced him to 50 years in prison for sexually assaulting a child repeatedly over three years.
Justice Patrick Larson sentenced 36-year-old Stephen Ames to 50 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervision for three counts of gross sexual assault, one count of unlawful sexual contact, and one count of sexual misconduct with a child. The offenses occurred from 2017 through 2019 when the child was less than 10 years old.
A jury convicted Ames in January. He has been held without bail pending his sentencing hearing.
Assistant District Attorneys Paul Cavanaugh and Mari Wells prosecuted the case. Cavanaugh had asked the judge to impose three consecutive sentences of 20 years for a total of 60 years in prison to be followed by lifetime supervision as a sex offender.
The maximum sentence for each gross sexual assault was 20 years. The prosecutor asked for consecutive sentences saying they were separate offenses.
After the sentencing, Cavanaugh praised the judge for his thoughtful consideration of the arguments made by the state.
“The state is always amazed by the strength of survivors of sex abuse and their willingness to come forward. Hopefully, this will create some closure for the family, and make other victims know they can come forward,” Cavanaugh said.
Larson said the impact on the victim and family was incalculable. He said the rough childhood that Ames experienced is nothing compared to what his victim has endured.
Testimony from the victim at trial was that the sexual assaults occurred multiple times a week from 2017 to 2020 in the Thomaston area. When the child first reported the crimes to a relative, Ames warned her that bad things would happen if she talked and the girl recanted. Ames would take the girl to parking lots to get an internet connection and show her pornography and then sexually assault her in places including the Walmart parking lot in Thomaston, and the parking lot next to the school athletic fields in Rockland.
Defense attorney Michael Whipple asked for Ames to get a prison sentence of 15 years to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. He cited a difficult childhood that Ames endured. He said Ames served his country in the military, saved someone with CPR, and helped three crew members on a fishing boat that caught fire.
The defense lawyer objected to the 50-year sentence and indicated an appeal could be filed.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.