NEW SHARON – A New Sharon man has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman he was acquainted with, Franklin County Sheriff’s Lt. Niles Yeaton said Tuesday.

Charles F. Hamner, 51, a convicted sex offender, was arrested on a charge of gross sexual assault late Thursday, he said.

He was also charged with violating conditions of his release, Yeaton said.

Deputy Sandy Burke and Detective David St. Laurent conducted an investigation on the assault that occurred very early Thursday morning, he said.

The woman went to a hospital for examination, Yeaton said.

Hamner has an extensive criminal history and is a lifetime sex offender registrant, Yeaton said.

According to the Maine Sex Offender Registry, Hamner has both a New Sharon and Gardiner residence.

He was indicted on two charges of unlawful sexual contact on May 7, 1991, by an Oxford County grand jury and pleaded guilty to both charges on Jan. 24, 1992, according to court records.

Hamner was released Friday on $5,000 unsecured bail from the Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington.