PORTLAND — Former Auburn music teacher James Raymond has been sentenced to serve 12 years in federal prison. He will also be subject to lifetime supervised release after completion of that sentence, a restriction far greater than the 10 years of supervision requested by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Raymond was convicted in U.S. District Court in May on two federal counts of transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Each count carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.

Raymond, who appeared in federal court Thursday morning to be sentenced, maintained his innocence during the trial and plans to appeal the conviction and the sentence, according to his attorney, Richard Hartley.

Raymond had been seeking a 10-year sentence, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Wolff recommended Raymond be sentenced to 17 ½ years, five years below the advisory range for these crimes.

Last week, Wolff told Justice D. Brock Hornby that Raymond deserved the sentence of 17 ½ years because the female victim had been entrusted to Raymond, he had abused that trust and arranged the circumstances that led to his criminal actions. Wolff also noted that the victim was 11 years old at the time of the crimes, which constitutes an aggravating factor under the law.

It is not known where Raymond will be assigned to serve his sentence, but it will be out of state because there are no federal prison facilities in Maine.