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MONMOUTH
Teacher
faces sex
charges
By BETTY ADAMS
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 10/12/2007

AUGUSTA -- A longtime English teacher at Monmouth Academy was indicted Thursday on charges he had sex with a female student from the school.

Christopher I. Dumaine, 39, of Readfield was arraigned in Augusta District Court shortly after the indictment was handed up. He pleaded not guilty to two charges of gross sexual assault and two charges of unlawful sexual contact and was released.

Affidavits containing details about the case were impounded by the judge. According to the indictment, the sexual acts occurred between June 1 and Sept. 14.

Dumaine resigned from Monmouth Academy in a one-line resignation letter effective Sept. 17, according to the Monmouth School Committee.

"Chris was a highly respected and capable teacher for 16 years at Monmouth Academy," said Walter McKee, Dumaine's attorney. "Given the allegations, he believed it was important for him to step aside from this position, for the good of the school."

Dumaine is a Monmouth Academy graduate.

Assistant District Attorney Paul Rucha, the prosecutor at the arraignment, said the alleged victim was 16.

"We felt it was important that he be arraigned and be brought before the court and that bail conditions be set as soon as possible," said District Attorney Evert Fowle.

Judge Rae Ann French set bail at $5,000 worth of property or $500 cash, which is to be posted today, Fowle said.

Bail conditions ban Dumaine from contact with the girl named in the indictment, her family, and Monmouth Academy faculty and students. He also is prohibited from having unsupervised contact with girls younger than 18.

"At the appropriate time, we will address the facts, alleged and otherwise," McKee said.

An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but it indicates that sufficient evidence is present to proceed with formal charges and a trial in superior court.

"Monmouth police and state did a thorough investigation and sufficient evidence was developed to present this to the grand jury," Fowle said.

According to the indictment, Dumaine engaged in a sexual act and had sexual contact with a student enrolled in a school where he was "a teacher, employee, or other official having instructional, supervisory or disciplinary authority" over the girl.

"The school has been fully apprised of developments in this case," Fowle said.

Dumaine has no criminal record in Maine, Fowle said.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

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Reader comments

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MikeLent of monmouth, ME
Oct 22, 2007 10:58 PM
Alright first of all mr.dumaine rules i hope he reads this, but the girl threw her self out to him, its not his fault she loved him. yes its wrong but i don't think Christopher Dumaine should have to go threw all of this humiliation. I only got to know my English teacher for half a quarter, didn't get along with him at first but after a while i knew where he was coming from and we got along nicely, if you get this Mr. Dumaine i wish you the best of luck with everything you encounter.report abuse
Jason Something of Saco, ME
Oct 22, 2007 6:50 PM

oops. nevermind my earlier comments regarding the laws. I was looking under all the consent laws...but under the description of "gross sexual assault", one can read all the different types of people that cannot have sex with each other if the younger is under 18. this includes teachers, doctors, and many other types.report abuse
Jason Something of Saco, ME
Oct 22, 2007 5:32 PM

Someone help me out here. The younger student in question was 16, yes? I don't understand the charges then? I thought the age of consent in Maine was 16, and if she was 16, and consenting, then am I wrong to think no charges should be filed? Not morally....I mean, just to the letter of the law.

If the issue was that she was 15 when the sex took place, then he'd be charged with "gross sexual assault of a minor", but that's not what he's charged with?

I just don't get it. someone help.

I thought that, in Maine, a 16 year old could have sexual relations with an 18, 25, 39, 85, or any other age as long as both parties consented. Is it his JOB that is the issue here? Because I certainly don't see anything in the law that makes the law any different dependant on the older person's relationship with the younger. (student/teacher, doctor/patient, shrink/patient, automechanic/clinet) etc etc etc.

granted, I realize that these are bad scenarios, and I also realize that these older people are demonstrating poor judgement, but again, I don't care about the morality here....I'm just trying to see what the law hang-up is.

I know those professions have their OWN rules and doctrines that would come into play (like losing the teaching certificate, losing a license to practice, etc.) but these are not laws of the land.

so yeah, from a legal standpoint, I find this case interesting. Not the least of the reasons is that we forget he is innocent until proven guilty. we think "what a dope!" as if we know for sure what has happened. Kinda odd.

anyways. any light from anyone out there would be appreciated.report abuse
Nicole Cushing of READFIELD, ME
Oct 17, 2007 7:24 PM
"He who is without sin, cast the first stone!"

If everyone, including the media, would stop sensationalizing this story then the judicial system could do the right thing without any predigest. I'm not overly religious, but I do believe that there is a God. So, why don't we let God be this man's judge and jury because that is what matters in the end. Also, if everyone would think about the shame that his kids will endure then they might not be so quick to run thier mouths. report abuse

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