A Westbrook teenager is being held at Cumberland County Jail on charges of sexually assaulting two children.
Westbrook police arrested William Blanchard, 18, on July 10 on two counts of gross sexual assault, a Class A felony. Police said Blanchard is accused of assaulting the two victims, an 8-year-old and an 11-year-old, at his home in the Hamlet on Saco Street.
Blanchard was arraigned in Cumberland County Superior Court on July 12, and is being held on a bail of $10,000 surety or $5,000 cash plus conditions that include a requirement to secure a pretrial contract with the state, according to Westbrook Det. Sean Lally.
Lally said the charges stem from incidents occurring on or about May 26 and June 10 at Blanchard’s home. He said investigators learned about the incidents when someone approached police at the Public Safety Building with a complaint.
Lally interviewed one of the children, who told him about the alleged incidents. Lally then brought the case to the District Attorney’s office and arrested Blanchard. Lally said Blanchard, who has no criminal record, confessed to the two assaults while being interviewed by police after his arrest.
Lally said police would continue to investigate if there are any other victims in the case. “Pedophiles don’t usually have only one victim, so it’s important for the community to know these guys are around,” he said.
In separate news, a Burnham Street man is being charged with the sexual abuse of a minor for three incidents occurring in the last six months, according to Westbrook Police Chief Paul McCarthy.
Michael Peterson, 21, was charged on July 11 with three counts of gross sexual assault against a 14-year-old boy. Westbrook police have forwarded the case to the District Attorney’s office, and Peterson will face arraignment on Sept. 11.
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