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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Scott of Farmingdale, ME
Oct 12, 2007 1:30 AM
Attorney Walter McKee of Lipman, Katz, & McKee (the firm's last partner) has built his career on defending pedophiles & rapists like this one, and will most likely get this teacher acquited or at minimum a very lenient sentence. I am however curious as to what he has to say regarding: "At the appropriate time, we will address the facts, alleged and otherwise," McKee said.
What facts? Is this teacher married? Does he have children of his own? How many other students has he manipulated & diddled?
This isn't a 16 year old girl & an 18 or 19 year old boy who could also go to school with her or another school. This is a 39 year old teacher. So, with that said, why only $500.00 cash or $5,000 surety for bail? What gives, Judge French? Did you giggle when you set this bail? report abuse
Leon Richard of Farmington, ME
Oct 12, 2007 3:21 AM
A charge is not a conviction, and it is not alleged that the sex was"forced", although there is absolutely no way this could ever be acceptable under any standards. That said, he's not a flight risk, and the danger of reoffense appears to the judge and prosecutor to be relatively low. Hence, the what appears as low bail, with very restrictive conditions from the sounds of things.

An 18 or 19 year old and a 16 year old can legally engage in sexual contact without fear of prosecution. Take a look at the statute. While looking there, read the part about teachers and students having any sexual contact at all.

He's going to go to jail, although the time he will serve won't likely be of a length someone would go up for forcible rape. He's thrown his career away, likely lost his family and damaged those relationships badly. report abuse
Stan Moody of Manchester, ME
Oct 12, 2007 6:02 AM
I should like to wade in early, here, before those without sin begin piling on...

I have known the defendant and his family for about 12 years...In fact, I have been his pastor for much of that time...Wherever this goes, I will stand with him and his family...

In my experience, however limited it may be in such matters as this, I have found that troubles run very deep, and forgiveness is a rare commodity...report abuse
fattubbo of Winthrop, ME
Oct 12, 2007 6:25 AM
Somehow, I'm not surprised that one of the first posts on here pretty much convicts the man right on the spot. As Stan Moody pointed out, a charge is not a conviction. This man is innocent until proven guilty. So far, the facts from the story are that the man has been charged, is in jail, and will be released on bail. The charge alone does not make him an instant anything.

I also want to remind Scott of Farmingdale about the Duke LaCross players and the fiasco that surrounded their ordeal. Those boys were convicted in the media circus within hours of the story breaking. So, until you get the actual facts, Scott, please, let's refrain from convicting this man in a similar fashion.report abuse

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