A former Bonny Eagle High School cheerleading coach accused of having a sexual relationship with a student did not enter a plea at his arraignment Wednesday morning.
Nicholas Perry, who was arrested in January on charges of gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual touching, remained free on $5,000 cash bail.
The alleged victim was 18 at the time of the alleged relationship, said Peter Rodway, Perry’s lawyer, after the brief arraignment in the Cumberland County courthouse. Perry was charged under a provision in Maine law that bars sexual contact between school employees and anyone over whom the employee has instructional, supervisory or disciplinary authority.
Perry, who was accompanied to court by about a dozen supporters, left immediately after the hearing and did not comment.
Rodway also declined comment beyond confirming the bail conditions and saying the alleged victim was 18 years old.
No date for Perry’s next court appearance was immediately set.
Perry was a 2014 graduate of Bonny Eagle, said Paul Penna, the interim superintendent of School Administrative District 6, in an email after Perry’s arrest.
He was first hired as an assistant coach in August and as a coach for the winter cheering program in November, Penna said at the time.
The Maine Department of Education confirmed after Perry was arrested in January that he had cleared a statewide criminal background check, which is required for all school employees.
Penna, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday, said the district followed its hiring procedures with Perry and had no concerns about the cheerleading coach until they heard about the alleged sexual contact with the student.
School officials contacted law enforcement and other agencies, including the state Department of Health and Human Services, after they learned of the alleged contact, and Perry resigned and was arrested less than 24 hours later.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation found that the alleged sexual contact did not occur at a school function or on school grounds,
Penna also said he reviewed the coaching orientation program that Perry participated in, and that school officials will “expand the review of our policies and the laws that protect our students.”
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