FARMINGTON — A former Jay Elementary School employee faces multiple charges after police accused him of sexually abusing two children younger than age 12 within the last six years, which is after he retired from his job at the school, according to police and school district officials.

The man, Carl A. Seaward Jr., 81, of Wilton, made an initial appearance Wednesday in Farmington District Court. He wore a white-collared shirt, black pants and orange jail-issued shoes and was handcuffed as well as shackled.

During the brief initial appearance, Seaward only spoke to answer questions from the judge, acknowledging he understood the sexual abuse charges against him along with other court procedures.

Judge Nancy Carlson set his bail at $10,000 cash along with other conditions, including those that prohibit him from having contact with children younger than 16. His next court date is Aug. 24.

Seaward was arrested Tuesday by Wilton police Sgt. Richard H. Billian Jr. after a referral to police by the state Department of Health and Human Services, Wilton police Chief Heidi Wilcox said Wednesday.

John Martins, spokesman for health and human services, on Wednesday said he couldn’t confirm whether the department handled the case.

Seaward is accused of sexually abusing the two children in Wilton, Wilcox said. He is charged with unlawful sexual contact and unlawful sexual touching.

After the hearing Wednesday, Seaward was taken back to Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington, where he remained in custody Wednesday afternoon, a jail official said.

Last year, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-2nd District, presented Seaward with several medals and citations for his service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Seaward told the Morning Sentinel at the time that he served in the Korean War, was discharged from the Army in 1954, then earned a forestry degree from the University of Maine in 1956.

He moved to Oregon for a few years before returning to Maine to get a teaching certificate, and worked as a math and science teacher at several high schools.

Seaward said he earned a master’s degree in counseling at the University of Alabama in 1967, and took a job as an elementary school counselor in Arizona. He moved back to Maine in 1981, making his home in Wilton and working at Jay Elementary School for 15 years before retiring in 2002.

Robert Wall, superintendent of the school district in Jay, on Wednesday said payroll records confirmed Seaward stopped working for the elementary school in 2002. Wall, who started as superintendent in 2003, was not aware of Seaward’s arrest and couldn’t provide other details. Wall said he will check other school district records about Seaward and contact law enforcement officials for more information.

“Certainly we will follow up with every avenue that we can,” he said.

David F. Robinson — 861-9287

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