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Jason Merrifield |
By Dominik Lobkowicz
A 27-year-old Waldoboro man guilty of burglary and already in jail faces a new charge of gross sexual assault for allegedly engaging in a sexual act with a then-13-year-old girl.
Jason Merrifield was summoned for the alleged crime by Knox County Sheriff’s Detective Justin Twitchell on Sept. 12 following a nearly five-month investigation.
According to documents filed with Knox County Superior Court, the investigation stemmed from a referral by the Department of Health and Human Services on May 15 about the alleged assault.
Following up with the alleged victim’s clinician and her mother, Twitchell hit a dead-end when he discovered all locally held information on Merrifield’s whereabouts was not current or accurate, according to a statement by Twitchell filed with the court.
Twitchell caught a break in July when Merrifield was arrested by Rockland Police Department on unrelated charges of domestic violence assault and domestic violence criminal mischief.
Twitchell’s statement alleges both Merrifield and the alleged victim confirmed the act took place, and both said the act was not forced.
A person is guilty of gross sexual assault, however, if a person engages in a sexual act with another person who, “not the actor’s spouse, has not in fact attained the age of 14 years,” according to state statute.
Such a violation is a Class A crime, according to the statute. Class A crimes are punishable by up to 30 years incarceration and a $50,000 fine, according to the website of the Office of the Maine Attorney General.
Some details did not line up between Twitchell’s interviews with Merrifield and the alleged victim.
According to Twitchell’s statement, Merrifield said it was a one-time event, whereas the alleged victim said it happened on three separate occasions.
Also, the alleged victim said she told Merrifield her actual age and never claimed to be older – Merrifield said the girl told him she was 17, according to Twitchell’s statement.
A call to Merrifield’s court-appointed attorney, Jeremy Pratt, for comment was not returned by press time.
Merrifield has a criminal history dating at least to May 2009, when he burglarized Beth Farm’s Market in Warren.
He pleaded guilty to the burglary, Class C, criminal mischief, Class D, and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Class E, on Feb. 3, 2010, according to court documents.
Merrifield’s probation from the burglary was partially revoked in December 2011 for violations of his probation conditions, and his probation was partially revoked for violations again Sept. 12, 2013, this time for a five-month period, according to court documents.
As of Dec. 2 Merrifield was being held without bail at Knox County Correctional Facility, according to jail personnel.
A status conference for the gross sexual assault charge is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 24 at 8:30 a.m. at Knox County Superior Court.
