The Somerset County Sheriff’s Department arrested an Old Town man on Friday for alleged gross sexual assault against a child under the age of ten following a two-year investigation.
[RELATED: Old Town Residents Arrested in Brewer for Drug Possession and Child Endangerment…]
Initially, Corey M. Cox, 28, of Old Town, was issued a $10,000 bail, but, following a Monday court appearance, Judge Andrew Benson reduced his bail to just $2,500 with conditions that he have no contact with the victim, the victim’s family, or any minors. Judge Benson was appointed under former Republican Gov. Paul LePage, and it is unclear why he decided to reduce Cox’s bail.
In stark contrast to this apparent leniency in the recent Maine case, the state of Florida has begun seeking death penalty sentences for perpetrators convicted of raping children under 12 years of age.
In August 2023, Detective Shanna Blodgett of the Fairfield Police Department began the two-year investigation that led to Cox’s arrest after receiving a complaint involving Cox and a young child.
Detective Blodgett collaborated with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Children’s Advocacy Center of Kennebec and Somerset Counties, and the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office, to gather more information on the situation.
Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Detective Jeremy Leal joined the investigation in May of this year, and was able to gather enough information to acquire an arrest warrant for Cox.
He was arrested on Friday, and is currently being held in the Somerset County Correctional Facility.
“This as an example of the importance of agencies working together with the common goal of holding perpetrators accountable for such horrific crimes. Without the collaboration between the Fairfield Police Department, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, and the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office, this arrest would not have been possible,” said Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster.
Cox faces charges for Gross Sexual Assault (Class A).
