Editor’s note: The below has been edited to remove disturbing descriptions of sexual assault.
LEWISTON A Minot man characterized as a “serial child molester” by prosecutors is facing charges of sexually assaulting two girls and possibly more charges involving more girls.
Ralph Leach
Androscoggin County Jail
Ralph Leach, 65, was in court last week after he was arrested on two warrants, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Matulis told a judge Friday.
Leach is charged with gross sexual assault, a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison, and unlawful sexual contact, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, stemming from an incident on Feb. 21, Matulis said.
Maine man accused of sexually assaulting multiple children, deputies say Share Updated: 4:19 PM EST Mar 1, 2021
Maine man accused of sexually assaulting multiple children, deputies say Share Updated: 4:19 PM EST Mar 1, 2021
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Show Transcript INFORMATION ON THE WMTW NEWS 8 WEBSITE.OR IN OUR APP. A MINOT MAN ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING CHILDREN IS BEING HELD ON 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS BAIL. RALPH LEACH WAS ARRESTED THURSDAY OF LAST WEEK. HE S CHARGED WITH GROSS SEXUAL ASSAULT AND TWO COUNTS OF UNLAWFUL SEXUAL CONTACT. OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE MULTIPLE VICTIMS, ALL UNDER THE AGE OF 13, ARE INVOLVED. INVEST
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Lewiston
• Amber Bloss, 35, of 124 Lisbon St., on a charge of violating conditions of release, 9:24 p.m. Thursday at 391 Lisbon St.
• Jessica Godin, 41, of 60 Bow St., Freeport, on a charge of driving with a suspended license, 2 a.m. Friday on College Street.
Androscoggin County
• Daniel Ouellette, 47, of 30 Highland Ave., Mechanic Falls, arrested by Mechanic Falls police on a charge of domestic assault, 12:48 a.m. Friday at that address.
• Dylan Cooper, 24, of 1272 Woodman Hill Road, Minot, arrested by the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office on charges of driving while intoxicated and driving with a suspended license, 11:51 p.m. Thursday on Anson Road, Greene.
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Androscoggin County
• Isaac Ramsdell, 35, of Corinna, arrested by the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office on warrants charging failure to appear in court on charges of driving after having been declared a habitual offender, failing to provide a correct name and date of birth, aggravated forgery and attaching false plates, 10:34 p.m. Wednesday, on Bailey Hill Road in Poland.
• Ralph Leach, 65, of 138 West Minot Road, Minot, arrested by the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office on charges of gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact, 2 p.m. Thursday, at the Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn.
Auburn
• Aaron Chadbourne, 52, of 415 Main St., Palmyra, on charges of eluding police, driving to endanger, failing to stop and driving with a suspended license, 5:29 p.m. Thursday, at the Rockingham County Jail in Brentwood, New Hampshire.
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POLAND The municipal budget recommended by local officials is nearly $5.1 million, which represents a 3.3% increase over last year’s fiscal budget, according to Town Manager Matthew Garside.
The effect, if any, that increase would have on the town’s tax rate won’t be known until a school budget is passed. A referendum on the school budget will be scheduled for June.
For the second consecutive year, local residents will be expected to cast ballots by referendum instead of gathering indoors for an annual town meeting. That decision was prompted by Gov. Janet’s Mills’ emergency order that places restrictions on the size of groups that can safely congregate indoors due to COVID-19 infection concerns.