A Madison man was in Skowhegan District Court on Wednesday to face charges that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in December and then fled the area to escape arrest.
Eric Horan, 36, allegedly assaulted the girl while they were spending the night at a friend’s house, Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster said.
The Madison Division of the sheriff’s office took the initial complaint on Jan. 5, saying the alleged assault happened on Dec. 29 on Pine Street. Detective Jeremy Leal, of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office criminal division, was assigned to the case.
“It was discovered that after the incident, Horan had left the Madison area and his whereabouts was unknown,” Lancaster said.
Leal later received information indicating that Horan was living in Brunswick. Horan was interviewed by Leal and reportedly confessed to the assault, Lancaster said.
The sheriff’s office, working with the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office, secured a warrant for Horan’s arrest. He is charged with unlawful sexual contact, a class C felony; unlawful sexual touching, a class D misdemeanor; and sexual abuse of a minor, also a class D crime.
Horan was arrested Saturday by the Brunswick Police Department and was taken Tuesday to the Somerset County Jail in East Madison. He faces up to five years in prison if he is convicted.
Following his arraignment Wednesday afternoon in court, he was being held in lieu of $2,000 cash bail or $20,000 surety. He cannot have contact with the alleged victim or children under the age of 16.
His next scheduled court date is May 24.
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
Twitter:@Doug_Harlow
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