A male dance instructor from North Monmouth who has taught in communities across central Maine has been arrested on a charge of sexually abusing a teenage girl who was one of his students, according to police.
Police said the man, 31-year-old Ryan Morrill, taught the girl in Newcastle, but he also has worked at studios in Augusta, Winthrop, Lewiston, Auburn and Thomaston, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Friday afternoon.
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If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-871-7741.
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The girl was 14 or 15 years old at the time of the alleged sexual abuse, which lasted about 10 months, said Lt. Michael Murphy in a news release. Authorities first learned of the accusations against Morrill on Wednesday.
Morrill has been charged with sexual abuse of a minor, a class C felony punishable by up to 5 years in jail. He was taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset and his bail was set at $1,000 cash.
“It is possible there are other victims involved in this case,” Murphy said in the news release. “This investigation in on-going and further charges are expected.”
Murphy encouraged anyone with information about Morrill to contact either Detective Sgt. Ronald Rollins at 882-7332 or a local police department.
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