AUBURN - A judge denied a request Thursday by a former Auburn schoolteacher accused of molesting students who was seeking permission to have contact with children outside his family.

James Raymond, 27, is charged with four counts of assault and three counts of unlawful sexual touching. Each of the Class D misdemeanors is punishable by up to a year in jail.

He was at Androscoggin County Superior Court seeking to change his bail conditions, which bar him from having contact with anyone under age 18 except for family members.

His attorney, Walter McKee of Augusta, said Raymond was seeking supervised contact with children other than family provided their parents gave written consent.

McKee explained that the request was made pending Raymond's trial so that he would be able to socialize and "isn't just sitting alone, isolated."

Assistant District Attorney Deborah Cashman objected to the motion.

She said Raymond was a popular teacher whose alleged actions might not be known to all of the parents who had children at the schools where he taught. He has acknowledged that a "little voice" tells him to put his hand up the skirts of young girls, 7 and 8 years old, Cashman said.

In some instances, other teachers were present when Raymond allegedly touched students improperly, she said. Adults need to be trained about how to supervise his contact with children, she said.

In a separate action, federal investigators are looking into Raymond's alleged online visit to a child pornography site, she said.

She asked that any contact with family members under 18 be supervised.

Justice Thomas Delahanty II agreed.

He said he would allow Raymond to visit family members as long as the parents of children supervise his contact with anyone under 18, but not at his home. His address at the time he was taken into custody was 115 Cook St. in Auburn. Raymond isn't permitted contact with children of friends or acquaintances, Delahanty said.

Raymond remains free on $5,000 bail.

He was suspended and later resigned from his job after local police investigated in October a complaint by a 7-year-old girl at Park Avenue Elementary School, where he was a music teacher. He also taught at East Auburn Community School.

The girl reported to school staff that Raymond slid his hand up her skirt and touched her buttocks through her underwear.

Cashman said the seven charges involve four young students.