NEW SHARON — A Brunswick man remained behind bars at the Franklin County Jail in Farmington Thursday afternoon on charges that he raped a woman in New Sharon the day before, according to state police.

Christopher Bennett, 39, was being held in lieu of $2,000 cash or $20,000 property bond, according to a jail intake worker. He is charged with gross sexual assault.

The allegation was made by a woman who knows Bennett. The Portland Press Herald does not identify the alleged victims of sex crimes.

Lt. Donald Pomelow of Maine State Police Troop C Barracks in Skowhegan said Bennett was arrested at his place of work in Auburn on Wednesday.

“We received a call around 4:30 p.m.; it was a female living in New Sharon,” Pomelow said. “It appears he showed up at her residence and forced his way on her and then left. It does specify that it was force, to what extent, I’m not sure.”

Pomelow said it does not appear that a weapon was used in the attack. He said the crime of gross sexual assault is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison with a conviction.

Pomelow said Bennett will be arraigned in court in Farmington.


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