AUGUSTA — An attorney argued Monday that a 22-year-old former Belgrade man is not competent to stand trial on charges of raping an 11-year-old girl in 2015 and then contacting her early this year by using a fake name on Facebook while he was on bail.

Travis R. Gerrier, most recently of Dixmont and Carmel, has been in custody since February.

Gerrier was in handcuffs as he sat at the defense table during Monday’s hearing at the Capital Judicial Center. He spent almost all the time staring down at the table or at his hands as his attorney, Sherry Tash, questioned a witness and made a closing argument.

Justice Robert Mullen gave both the defense and the prosecution until Dec. 12 to hand in written arguments or other cases supporting their positions before he renders a decision.

Gerrier was indicted in September on charges of gross sexual assault, tampering with a victim, violating a condition of release, unlawful sexual contact and furnishing liquor to a minor. He pleaded not guilty.

In January, police allege that Gerrier violated a condition of his release by contacting the victim via Facebook under a fake name and telling her that she needed to tell police “that he didn’t make her do it,” according to a court affidavit filed by Kennebec Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brittany Johnson.

His attorney, Sherry Tash, said Gerrier lacks the capacity to understand the length of the sentence the state is currently seeking — 20 years. Tash said he has some concept of a year or two.

 

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