AUGUSTA — A 21-year-old Waterville man who was a standout soccer star in high school pleaded guilty Tuesday to two felony charges of unlawful sexual contact and a misdemeanor assault charge and began a two-year deferred disposition.

Under an agreement with the prosecutor, Danilo A. Guthro can withdraw those pleas on March 5, 2019, and instead plead to one misdemeanor charge of unlawful sexual contact.

He then would be sentenced to a 364-day all-suspended sentence and one of year probation that includes counseling provisions and a prohibition from unsupervised contact with the victim and girls under 16. The assault charge would carry an 80-day sentence and a $300 fine, according to the deferred disposition arrangement Justice Harold Stewart II read aloud to Guthro.

If Guthro meets the terms of the agreement, he will avoid a felony conviction and a requirement to register for 25 years under the state’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

A conviction on the misdemeanor offense carries a 10-year registration requirement.

In exchange for the pleas, an additional charge of assault, naming the same girl as the victim, was dismissed.

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The charges say Guthro intentionally subjected a girl to unlawful sexual contact, and that she submitted as a result of compulsion. The offenses allegedly occurred in the periods of May 1 to July 1, 2014, and Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2014, in Waterville.

The prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Michael Madigan, said the investigation began when Waterville police were speaking to the girl about another matter, and she became distraught and told them about Guthro’s actions. She said he had fondled her breasts and touched her genitals both over and under clothing, Madigan said.

Madigan said the girl’s family was consulted about the deferred disposition arrangement.

“There was no good outcome for this victim and family,” Madigan told the judge. “We took into consideration everything they wanted considered.”

They were not in the courtroom for the pleas.

Guthro also pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal mischief and violating conditions of release and was sentenced to a concurrent 30 days on those convictions.

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Guthro has served 80 days in jail. He was released Tuesday.

Conditions of the deferred disposition require Guthro to refrain from criminal conduct and from unsupervised contact with girls under 16. He also is required to provide proof of 48 hours of community services, which Madigan explained would be two hours each month.

Brad Grant, the attorney representing Guthro, said Guthro opted to go forward with the guilty pleas even though his attorney told him there were some valid points the defense could raise at trial.

Guthro told the judge he was born in Colombia but is a U.S. citizen. Grant said there would be no immigration consequences.

Guthro was named Morning Sentinel Boys Soccer Player of the Year in 2013 as a junior at Waterville High School.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams


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