AUGUSTA — A city woman is charged with three counts of sexual abuse of a minor following a two-week investigation by Augusta Police.
Loni D. Ingalls, 36, was arrested on Friday and made an initial court appearance Monday via video at the Capital Judicial Center.
She was accompanied by attorney Stephen Bourget, serving as lawyer of the day.
An affidavit filed with the court indicates the victim is a 14-year-old boy and that the abuse occurred in November and December 2015 and January 2016 in Ingalls’ apartment. The affidavit by Augusta Police Detective Tori Tracy said the offenses were reported by the boy’s mother, who showed police messages she had seen on a cellphone she had taken from her son.
The affidavit also says Ingalls used a pseudonym, Vivian Smith, when contacting the boy and when communicating with him via Facebook.
Ingalls’ next court hearing is set for May 10. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $5,000 in fines.
Ingalls entered no plea at the initial hearing because the charges are felonies.
She also is accused of aggravated unlawful furnishing of Vicodin June 1-Oct. 21, 2015, to two people under age 18, one of whom is the boy listed as the victim in the sex abuse case. Ingalls told the judge she understood the charge “but some of the details in it are wrong.” She also is accused of two counts of unlawful possession of Vicodin, a powerful painkiller, within the same time period. Those complaints were brought in January.
Assistant District Attorney David Spencer sought $1,000 cash bail with conditions of no contact with the boy and his mother.
Judge Evert Fowle set bail for Ingalls at $3,000 cash with conditions prohibiting Ingalls from contact with the boy and his mother and from possession of drugs without a valid prescription. Conditions also prohibit her from having contact with individuals under age 16 and the two people who were allegedly furnished with Vicodin.
According to a press release from the Augusta Police, Tracy executed a search warrant Friday at 23 Drew St., Apartment 5, where Ingalls was arrested. She was held without bail over the weekend.
“It is believed that further perpetration of the victim would have continued if it weren’t for the coordinated effort by the officials involved in this investigation,” said Major Jared Mills, in the release.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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