LEWISTON — A former soccer coach at St. Dominic Academy in Auburn was arrested Tuesday and charged with drug trafficking.

John Brissette, 36, of Monmouth was free Wednesday on $5,000 cash bail from Kennebec County Jail in Augusta after an initial appearance at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta, according to a jail spokesman.

Brissette was charged with aggravated unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, a Class A crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison, and unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, a Class B crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He also was charged with unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, a Class C crime. If convicted on that charge, Brissette faces up to five years in prison. He also was charged with violation of criminal forfeiture of property.

A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland released a statement Thursday on behalf of Donald Fournier, president of St. Dominic Academy.

“John Brissette has only served as a part-time coach at the academy and his current contract has expired,” the statement said. “He has never been employed as a teacher.”  

Brissette coached boys’ junior varsity soccer through the 2015 fall season. The school learned on Wednesday afternoon that Brissette had been arrested a day earlier.

“Law enforcement officials have told us that there is no information that the charge is related to the academy, its students, or staff,” according to the statement. “We always aim to keep our parents informed, so, Thursday morning, we sent a letter to all parents/guardians informing them of the situation.” 

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