Two teenagers have been formally charged with the sexual assault of another teen inside a Westbrook motel room this month.

Juvenile petitions for criminal charges were filed Wednesday in Portland Unified Criminal Court against Ernest Lorange, 16, of Portland, and Rick Powers, 15, of Lisbon Falls. Both face one count each of gross sexual assault, a Class A felony. The names of juvenile offenders are not typically released unless they are charged with felonies.

The alleged assault took place Feb. 5 at the Super 8 Motel on Larrabee Road, and involved a third man, Garang Majok, 19, of Lewiston, who was also charged with one count of gross sexual assault.

Police began investigating the motel after receiving a report that morning of suspicious activity at the motel.

Attorneys for Lorange and Powers did not return calls seeking comment.

Lorange, who has been held in state custody at Long Creek Youth Development Center since his arrest Feb. 5, is expected to appear in court Thursday to answer to the charge.

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Powers, who was released to the custody of his parents after a prior detention hearing, is expected to appear before a judge March 9 to answer the charge.

Little is known about the circumstances of the alleged sexual assault. The victim was a 16-year-old female.

The manager of the Super 8 did not return a call for comment about the incident Wednesday, and police have released few details.

Although Majok is charged as an adult, which typically means more information is filed publicly in court documents, his case has been ordered sealed. Majok is due in court April 20 for a dispositional conference.

When juveniles are charged with felony crimes, prosecutors have the option of requesting to try the juveniles in adult court. The process is known as bind-over, and requires a hearing before a judge that can sometimes take several days.

A decision on whether to bind over the juveniles has not been made, said Christine Thibeault, the assistant district attorney for Cumberland County who heads the juvenile prosecution division.

Matt Byrne can be contacted at 791-6303 or at:

mbyrne@pressherald.com


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