Restaurant founder was a former teacher who was also involved with the Boy Scouts.

GRAY – Warren Cole, a co-founder of Cole Farms Restaurant who admitted to molesting more than a dozen young boys over a period of decades, died Friday in Skowhegan. He was 87.

In 1992, Cole was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of gross sexual misconduct. Although he admitted to molesting more than a dozen boys, investigators were unable to prosecute him for some of the older cases.

The arrest of Cole became a media sensation when it was revealed that the 75-year-old had lured schoolchildren to his lakeside camp in Raymond. There, prosecutors said, Cole provided the kids with cigarettes, booze and pornography before engaging in sex with them.

In the early 1940s, Cole was a high school teacher before joining the U.S. Army in 1941. Later, with his restaurant a popular eatery, Cole became involved with the Boy Scouts.

He was arrested after one of his victims talked to police after learning that Cole was being honored by that organization.

Shortly before he was sentenced, Cole announced he would set up a trust fund to help the victims of his actions. However, the move did not thwart at least four civil suits from being filed in the case.

Cole’s obituary did not disclose details about his death. The announcement only advised that Cole died in Skowhegan and that no funeral service was planned.

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