PARIS — A former Oxford Hills School District teacher and coach pleaded no contest Tuesday to charges of  sexual contact with a female student.

Shawn Gordon, 34, of Webber Farm Road in Paris entered the plea to unlawful sexual contact and assault in Oxford County Superior Court. Gordon's sentence was deferred for one year, during which time he must not have any contact with the girl or her family and must refrain from criminal activity. Upon successful completion, Gordon may be discharged.

The Paris Police Department in February 2008 charged
Gordon with sexual contact with a female student in July 2007.

According to Assistant Superintendent Richard Colpitts of the Oxford Hills School District, Gordon was hired in October 2001 as an eighth-grade social studies teacher. In June 2007, he was appointed to teach social studies at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. He resigned effective Sept. 30, 2007.

Gordon worked as the assistant head coach for the high school football team and had been appointed as a middle school social studies liaison in 2006, a stipend position, by the board.

In addressing Justice Andrew Horton, the girl's parents said she had been socially ostracized by students and parents, but that the family's supporters outnumber their detractors.

"Part of her teen years were robbed, and she'll never get them back," the girl's father said.

She was 16 years old when the contact occurred, her parents said.

"[She] did absolutely nothing wrong," said the girl's mother. "She is the victim, not Mr. Gordon."

Defense lawyer Leonard Sharon said Gordon accepted responsibility for his actions and never blamed the girl for his leaving the school district. Sharon said Gordon voluntarily resigned when confronted by the school board about the accusation.

Gordon's certificate to teach in Maine was issued April 16, 1998, according to David Connerty-Marin, spokesman for the Department of Education.

"His last certificate, issued July 1, 2004, allowing him to teach social studies in grades seven through 12, would normally be a five-year certificate," Connerty-Marin said. But Sept. 29, 2007, was the last date Gordon held a valid certificate to teach. Privacy laws prevent the Department of Education from releasing the reason Gordon no longer holds a teaching certificate.

Gordon, a 1992 graduate of Leavitt Area High School in Turner, graduated from the University of Maine in 1997.
A former defensive coordinator for the now-defunct semipro Shockers football
team in Lewiston, Gordon previously taught at Hall-Dale Middle School in
Farmingdale and in the Gray-New
Gloucester school district.

mlangeveld@sunjournal.com

Staff editor Judy Meyer contributed to this report.