Auburn man faces sex charges

Zachariah Tardif

- Franklin County jail in Farmington

FARMINGTON — A judge ordered an Auburn man Thursday be held on $300 cash bail or a Maine pretrial service agreement on charges of sexually assaulting a child.

Zachariah Tardif, 23, was also ordered to have no contact with the victim or children under 12 with the exception of his young son.

Tardif was arrested by Wilton police on a warrant listing two counts of felony unlawful sexual contact, which could result in up to 30 years in prison and, or up to a $50,000 fine.

According to an affidavit filed by Wilton police Lt. Edward P. Reynolds, the incidents reportedly took place between January 2005 and September 2008.

The initial complaint was made by a social worker in September 2007, who reported the victim said Tardif had shown her pornographic material and inappropriately touched her. The case was closed due to insufficient information.

On Sept. 3, 2009, Wilton police responded to the Franklin County District Attorney's Office on a second report of child sexual abuse.

Reynolds interviewed the girl, who at the time was between 5 and 9. She told police she was molested by Tardif while she was alone with him, according to the affidavit.

In response to the allegations, Tardif told police that while engaged in horseplay, he was tickling her and inappropriately touched her.

Assistant District Attorney James Andrews requested to Judge Valerie Stanfill that Tardif be held on $2,000 cash bail or $20,000 worth of real estate.

He said Tardif had no criminal history that he could find. He also asked that Tardif be prohibited from contact with children under age 12.

The state is open to a pretrial service contract in the future, Andrews said.

Christopher Berryment, the court-appointed attorney, said that all Tardif could come up with is $300 cash bail. Or as an alternative, Tardif could enter into a pretrial agreement, he said.

Tardif does not have any criminal history, Berryment said, and has lived in Maine for 13 years. He resides with his mother in Auburn and works at an industrial bakery, he said.

Tardif was contacted by Wilton police and was told to turn himself in by a certain date, Berryment said, and did turn himself in prior to that.

dperry@sunjournal.com