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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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
Mook of Lewiston, ME
Oct 15, 2007 3:11 PM
Here's the real crime: Chris has a wife and 3 children. Chris has a mom and a dad. How do these people show their faces in a small town, where the Dumaine name is well respectet? How does he tell his oldest son, "Hey, I just ruined my life and my family's reputation." How does he tell his youger children, "I'm not worthy of living with you and your mom anymore, and for the next 10 years you all are going to be the subject of whispers behind your back." How does he tell his parents, "Sorry for all the hard work you've done on your reputation, and everything you've done for me, I just threw it away." What does he say to the 16 year old girl who will now forever be known as "That Slut, or That poor abused girl."

The school would have put him on administrative leave if he had protested any of the claims, He would not have resigned, and would want to clear his name if it weren't true.

I have no simpathy for the man who can't make good choices, but feel most deeply for his family whose life has changed forever.report abuse
Joe of Winthrop, ME
Oct 14, 2007 9:35 PM
Not even close to the first time something like this has happened in the "town of Monmouth". This town has issues!report abuse
therehere of portland, ME
Oct 12, 2007 9:41 PM
Weather or not the 16 year old new better is irrelivent. The 39 year old whom has been teaching for 16 years should have known better.If he really cared about her he would have waited another year or 2 and had a legal and meaning ful relationship with her. And for all you school budget hacks please remember I believe the Bradley Tank? Expensive piece of new technology milatary equipment and it is best known for how well it got stuck in the sand. Why can christain and charter schools educate children much better for a lot less $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$report abuse
parasite of Albion, ME
Oct 12, 2007 8:13 PM
scott of Farmingdale...very well put.
And isn't it interesting also how our two practicing homo-sexual posters' twisted and perverted minds work?
One thinks that anyone who stands against same sex marriage and the concept as a whole are "hate mongers" because it rubs her fur the wrong way. And the other doesn't seem to have a problem with the concept of "professional boundaries" because in the olden days 12 and 14 year old marriages were not uncommon.
As I've stated before..same sex marrige is not recognized in Maine..and I hope they both hold their breaths while waiting...passing out from lack of oxygen to the brain might jump start the logical side of their brains...but then again....naaaa,I doubt it.report abuse
MAMustang of Monmouth, ME
Oct 12, 2007 8:00 PM
I find it deeply unfortunate that the majority of these comments draw instant judgment upon the situation without the proper reflection that it deserves. I am an alumnus of Monmouth Academy and a former student of Chris Dumaine. In my opinion, he was an excellent teacher and a man that garnered much respect around the community.

I would like to implore people to critically evaluate the situation before drawing judgment and to realize that all of the facts have not been fully determined.

Certainly, no one is perfect. Let me also be clear in that I, in no way, condone any actions even relevant to those compiled against Mr. Dumaine. And, if, the charges are found beyond a reasonable doubt to be true, then I encourage people to be temperate and prudent in their reasoning and reaction. A bad decision is not indicative of a bad person, and in my experience, I do not believe that Christopher Dumaine is truly a bad person. report abuse
m g of monmouth, ME
Oct 12, 2007 7:14 PM
To Buck Henry, get your facts strait, though it may not have been right the first case was legal. They were both 18 and school was already out. second of all your just one of the guys in town that wants everything cut out of the budget. you're the reason why the school is scrounging for money and cant afford anything. So you can continue to pinch your pennies and hope that someday you can afford your Asian mail order bride.
And to john from camden stop assuming because u have no idea whats going on, if u want to assume, then ill just assume your from camden and probably married your sister or cousinreport abuse

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