JAY – A local man was arrested today on multiple charges of gross sexual assault by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and Maine State Police personnel. The arrest follows a joint investigation into a series of incidents that are alleged to have occurred last year.
Joseph Begin, 37, of Jay, was arrested without incident at his residence by FCSD Lt. David St. Laurent and MSP Det. Randall Keaten. He is charged with three counts of gross sexual assault and taken to Franklin County Detention Center.
According to Sheriff Scott Nichols, the sexual assault charges stem from attacks which are alleged to have occurred in March 2014 in New Sharon. One of these attacks reportedly required the alleged victim to seek medical treatment. She had not reported the incidents because she feared for her life, Nichols said, until she recently came forward and made a disclosure to St. Laurent and Keaten.
The investigation is ongoing, Nichols noted, with law enforcement considering the possibility of other alleged victims in Kennebec County. In addition to FCSD and state police, staff from Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services are assisting the investigation by providing services to the alleged victim.
Begin is currently being held at the jail on $25,000 cash bail.
True justice would be an eye for an eye.
There is a lot of sexualized violence and exploitation in this community. It’s good people are reporting so that it can be investigated. I’ve heard too often people whisper they suspect, or even know for sure, something awful has happened but they are afraid to report because the perpetrator and their extended family/friends will know it was them.
When people in this community commit violent exploitive acts — it’s not just their victims harmed– we as a community are harmed. Every one one of us, because the perpetrators are telling us they do not respect the community, it’s citizens, it’s laws, or our moral values.
Our law enforcement takes these cases seriously, and thank you to them for their due diligence in investigating reports. But, we as a community also need to have that same due diligence in setting examples to our children for conduct and behavior towards others and to be strong and report instances of abuse/exploitation. We the community have more “personnel” and “human hours” than our law enforcement ever will! If we are vigilant and committed—we the community can nip these wrong headed wrong doers in the bud BEFORE they hurt someone.
I’ve also noticed what seems to be increased reporting. Addressing these
issues instead of just wishing they’d go away would benefit everyone in the community.
Education on recognizing and confronting abuse/violence could start
among the early grades in schools and churches, in service clubs, in workplaces, etc. Very important to implement uniform policies in order to be effective at all levels.
Very, very true “dissappointed”, but the saddest truth is, most of these cases don’t come to the attention of the public or the authorities until AFTER they are committed. Law Enforcement does all that they can do, but unfortunately their hands are tied until a crime happens.
This does not say he is guilty! So for all of you who judge based on the first story….wait!
first…Dino, your remarks make no sense! No one is guilty of anything until a crime happens! How can (and why would) law enforcement do anything without a crime ever being committed?
t, you do make a point. Although it is quite likely a crime(s) has been committed, it is possible that he is a victim of unfortunate circumstances and false accusations. Unlikely this is the case, but still possible. The part about this that bothers me is seeing the names and pictures of those accused being smeared onto public media before being tried. I know of cases personally when this has happened, resulting in ruined reputations and “names” of otherwise innocent people simply because of proven false accusations.
“The arrest follows a joint investigation into a series of incidents that are alleged to have occurred last year.” = high probability of guilt. Still, until his day in court that proves either way beyond a reasonable doubt, it is simply unfair for the public to “convict” him.
…..denial ain’t just a river in Egypt……. this area has a cultural tradition of enabling/hiding your friendly neighborhood : alcoholic, drug addict, drug dealer, domestic violence, child abuse/neglect , animal abuse/neglect etc etc etc
the only way to change these unhealthy harmful traditions of conduct…is to drag it out into the light of day and face the moral condemnation….. if the people around you are saying No-No Way is this OK, you’re going to have a much harder time continuing to engage in antisocial/harmful behaviors…
Every person, no matter who it is, is innocent until proven guilty under the law. If you are not a jury of his peers, called by the courts, you have no right to convict him. Media is the worst culprit when it comes to these matters. I just hope they will be as generous about raising him up and apologizing to him publicly if he is found not guilty. Even the cops have no right to convict him. Just remember that if you should ever get arrested for something you didn’t do and that can happen. Just maybe the victim isn’t a victim after all. Ever thought of that? It happens everyday. Be glad it isn’t you.
@disappointed: If what you claim is true about a “culture of enablement” where is the protection or encouragement for a victim or a whistle-blower to out the perpetrator?
Would a physician do it? A school counselor or teacher? A clergyman?
A veterinarian? A neighbor? Is there a recommended process or policy in place to handle “fair treatment” of both the accused and the accusor?