PARIS – A Rumford man was sentenced to three years in prison on Thursday after being convicted of sexually abusing a young girl with whom he’d conversed in an Internet chat room.
Oxford County Superior Court Justice Roland Cole sentenced James Anderson Sr., 35, to five years with all but three suspended, and four years probation, according to court records.
Cole also sentenced Anderson to 30 months with the Maine Department of Corrections for a probation violation. That time is to be served concurrently with the three-year sentence.
A court clerk said Thursday afternoon that Anderson was serving four years probation following nine months in jail after being convicted in 2000 of aggravated criminal mischief.
That Class C felony charge stemmed from more than $7,000 worth of damage done to several businesses in Rumford and Mexico on Nov. 11, 1999, the clerk said, reading from his court file.
Rumford Detective Lt. George Cayer, who was in the courtroom Thursday when Anderson was convicted, said police received a report earlier this year of a 15-year-old Rumford girl who had run away from home.
After finding and interviewing the girl, Cayer said she disclosed a sexual relationship with Anderson, who was a neighbor.
“He initially made contact with her through a family member, and then, talked to her through an Internet chat room, and made an arrangement to meet with her. That’s when the crime occurred, on Jan. 11,” Cayer said.
The charge of sexual abuse of a minor involves any touching of genitalia or oral sex between someone aged 14 or 15 and someone more than 10 years older, Cayer said.
Cole also attached conditions to the sentencing, requiring Anderson to undergo sex offender counseling, and to have no contact with children under the age of 16, except immediate family members, with permission from his probation officer.
He must also register for 10 years as a sex offender upon release from prison.
Cayer said Anderson, who had a prior record of property crimes showed no response when the girl’s father “hollered” at Anderson, while speaking on behalf of the family.
“It was quite something. He said 10 years wouldn’t be enough for what (Anderson) did to his family,” Cayer said of the father’s response.
The maximum sentence in Maine for sexual abuse of a minor is five years.
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