BIDDEFORD — A 44- year-old Biddeford man accused of sexually assaulting a woman for several years, beginning when she was a teenager, is scheduled to make a first court appearance today.

Biddeford police detectives, members of that department’s Street Crimes Unit and members of the Maine Violent Crimes Task Force arrested Ralph Miller of Guinea Road on Wednesday on a York County Superior Court warrant charging gross sexual assault.

Police Chief Roger Beaupre said Miller was taken into custody at his place of employment in York.

According to a police affidavit, the alleged victim had been victimized by Miller over several years. The woman, who is now an adult, told police she was 15 when she was first sexually abused by Miller.

Beaupre said the investigation that culminated in Miller’s arrest had been ongoing for more than a month.

According to the affidavit, the woman was examined at a New Hampshire hospital following the mid-February assault.

She told police investigators that she had told a few friends and a school teacher about the alleged abuse when she was a teenager, but was afraid to pursue the matter further at that time.

Miller was taken to York County Jail and held in lieu of $50,000 cash bail. He is scheduled to appear at Springvale District Court later today via video link from the jail.

Gross Sexual Assault is a Class B felony, which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years.

The case is expected to be presented to a York County grand jury for indictment.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].