DARCIE MOORE / THE TIMES RECORD Robert Welch, right, stands with one of his attorneys, Gerard Conley, Wednesday afternoon in West Bath District Court. Welch pleaded guilty to sex crimes against a minor that took place from 2008-2017 in Topsham.
WEST BATH
A Topsham man pleaded guilty to six counts of felony sex crimes against a minor Wednesday afternoon in West Bath District Court.
Robert Welch, 63, of Topsham, was arrested June 5, 2017 and initially charged with gross sexual assault, a Class B crime for allegedly engaging in a sexual act with another person who was under 18, court documents show.
Welch was released from Two Bridges Regional Jail in June 2017.
In August 2017 he was indicted by a Sagadahoc County Grand Jury on 20 counts of alleged sex crimes. This included 10 counts of unlawful sexual contact — all but one Class B crimes against a minor under the age of 12 according to court documents.
He also was indicted on 10 counts of gross sexual assault. Three of the gross sexual assault charges are Class A crimes against a minor under the age of 14. The remaining seven counts are Class B crimes against a minor under the age of 18.
The alleged crimes took place between October 2008 and June 1, 2017 against a female minor.
Sagadahoc County District Attorney Jonathan Liberman told Justice Daniel Billings Wednesday that Welch began abusing the victim when she was 7.
“The abuse progressed as the years went on and regularly occurred throughout her life,” he said.
As part of a plea agreement, Welch pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful sexual contact, three of them Class B felonies punishable by up to 10 years incarceration had he opted for a trial and been convicted. The fourth is a Class C crime punishable by up to five years incarceration.
He also plead guilty to two counts of gross sexual assault, both Class B felonies also punishable by up to 10 years incarceration.
Welch is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 5.
Liberman said the State of Maine will argue for an overall sentence of 20 years, with all but a cap of 12 years suspended, and six years probation.
By pleading guilty to the felony crimes, Welch cannot use or possess firearms and must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, Billings said during the plea hearing Wednesday.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
