SKOWHEGAN — A 29-year-old Skowhegan woman is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday on two felony charges stemming from the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old boy.
Jessica Lynn Wells was arrested Monday on charges of gross sexual assault, a Class B felony; and sexual abuse of a minor, a Class C felony, according to court records. She remained at the Somerset County Jail in East Madison on Tuesday pending her initial appearance in court when she will be assigned a court-appointed attorney for the day.
Jessica Lynn Wells
The charges allege sexual assault and sexual abuse of a boy for whose longterm care Wells was in part responsible. The crimes are alleged to have taken place in Skowhegan on July 13, according to court records.
Police were alerted to the allegations on July 29 and investigated. The boy’s mother reportedly received a text message from him and alerted authorities.
A case worker with the state Department of Health and Human Services conducted interviews in Skowhegan, according to court documents. A police officer sat in on the interviews, which were audio recorded, and in which Wells admitted to the assaults, police said.
Wells reportedly said she was the adult and should have said no to contact with the boy. There also allegedly were other text messages between them, which police said Wells asked the boy to delete because she said she would go to jail.
A Class B felony is punishable on conviction by up to 10 years in prison. The Class C felony is punishable by up to five years in prison.
When bail is set, Wells is ordered not to have contact with anyone under the age of 18 and is ordered not to use any device that connects to the internet or any cellular device. She also will have a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
