A Wilton man was arrested Tuesday on a class A felony charge of gross sexual assault against a girl under the age of 16 after a call to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office from a local school that launched a criminal investigation into a February incident, Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols said.

Shane Dunn, 24, of Wilton, was arrested Tuesday after an interview with investigating officer Detective Kenneth Charles that Nichols said provided probable cause to arrest Dunn in relation to the sexual assault.

The investigation began Sept. 24 when the sheriff’s department received a call from a local school in which the caller said an incident of sexual assault involving a minor had occurred in Phillips last February and that the victim had brought it to the attention of a school official, Nichols said.

“That’s why these laws exist. (School officials) are mandatory reporters, but the victims aren’t,” Nichols said.

Nichols could not comment on the nature of the February incident or the school that the call came from.

Dunn is being held at the Franklin County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail. He is scheduled to appear for arraignment Wednesday morning at The Franklin County District Court, Nichols said.

Lauren Abbate — 861-9252

labbate@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Lauren_M_Abbate


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.