(10/31/07 – Initial BBT Report)
James Raymond Jr., 26, a music teacher at Park Avenue Elementary and East Auburn Community schools in Auburn, Maine has been charged with unlawful sexual touching of a student.
Raymond reportedly came to the attention of authorities when the alleged victim reported an incident to school officials who called in police. Thus far police are not releasing information on the age or sex of the alleged victim.
Raymond who was arrested Tuesday afternoon at his home was released from the Androscoggin County Jail after posting $5,000 cash bail.
Raymond who has been a music teacher in the Auburn school system for five years has been placed on administrative leave.
Auburn police indicate that the investigation is still ongoing and that police will be interviewing other students making sure that there are no other incidents requiring investigation.
Update 11/01/07:
News media reports indicate that police alleged that Raymond told them:
He sometimes put his hand up the skirts of young girls in his class.
That he had an attraction to female students from kindergarten age to third grade
That 95 percent of the time he was satisfied to get a hug from a student. It was the remaining 5 percent of the time that posed a problem
There’s a little voice telling him to engage in that behavior. On those occasions, he tries to control himself, but he is unsuccessful some of the time.
Most incidents occurred during music class because all the girls would want to sit next to him.
He never touched the vaginal areas of the girls.
A federal agency was investigating him for his online activity involving child pornography and that he had bought memberships at child pornography Web sites.
It was further reported that the alleged victim, a 7-year-old girl first reported the alleged improper touching to her mother who was reluctant to report it to authorities and that the girl reported it to the school administration herself.
Reportedly Raymond told police he did not recall touching the girl on the day she says it happened in early October.
04/30/08 – Arrested On Bail Violation
James Raymond has been arrested and jailed upon an allegation that he approached a child at a Wal-Mart in violation of bail conditions.
It is alleged that an off-duty police detective spotted Raymond in the Wal-Mart and that he was talking to a child that is younger than 16, a violation of the bail conditions imposed upon Raymond.
08/21/08 – Guilty Verdict
An Androscoggin County Superior Court jury has found James Raymond Jr. guilty on all counts.
Raymond was found guilty on two counts of unlawful sexual touching and three counts of assault.
Testifying in his own defense on Wednesday Raymond told the jury that he lied when he told detectives that he was attracted to young girls. Raymond testified that he only confessed in order to end the interview in which he felt intimidated.
No word yet on a sentencing date.
10/02/09 – Federal Charges
After spending only sixty days in jail on his conviction on the state charges, James Raymond has been indicted on federal charges of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal activity.
If convicted on the two federal counts, Raymond could face up to life in prison.
Bail for Raymond on the federal charges was set at $10,000 and with a long list of bail conditions, including electronic monitoring, a curfew, and mandatory sex offender treatment.
References:
Teacher Found Guilty Of Molesting Students (08/21/08)
Jury Deliberations Continue In Music Teacher Trial (08/21/08)
Former teacher says he’s innocent (08/21/08)
Former teacher in child sex case back in jail (04/30/08)
Teacher told cop of urges for girls (11/01/07)
Teacher faces sex charge (10/31/07)
Auburn Teacher Facing Sex Charge (10/31/07)
Teacher facing unlawful sex charge (10/31/07)
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