Augusta woman to serve 5 years for sexual exploitation of minor

AUGUSTA — An Augusta woman who has pleaded guilty to more than 20 counts of sexual crimes against a child younger than 12 was sentenced Tuesday to serve five years in prison.

Jessica Cox, 32, pleaded guilty in early June to nearly 20 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of unlawful sexual contact.

Cox recorded and sent images of a girl, who was younger than 12 at the time, including photographs of Cox touching the child sexually, according to prosecutors.

Cox was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with five of those years suspended, and six years of probation.

If Cox complies with the conditions of her probation, she will serve only the five nonsuspended years. If she violates those conditions, she could face the full 10-year sentence.

“I think Jessica has, all along, wanted to accept responsibility for her actions,” her lawyer, Verne Paradie Jr., said following Tuesday’s sentencing. “She’s going to be doing five years, which is a significant amount of time. Of course, she’s going to pay for what she’s done, and she has accepted responsibility. She is extremely remorseful for what she’s done.”

Cox’s probation conditions, according to Paul Rucha, an assistant attorney general, include no use or possession of alcohol or drugs and that she attend substance abuse counseling, not have contact with minors, not have contact with the victim, not possess sexually explicit images and not possess or use internet-enabled devices, unless for her job.

Cox reportedly recorded and sent the images of the 12-year-old girl to Jared Jandreau, 36, formerly of China, who prosecutors said asked Cox to do so.

Jandreau’s case is set for a jury trial July 19.

Rucha said he could not comment on the resolution of the case against Cox because the case against her co-defendant was still pending.

Cox’s sentence was the result of a plea deal, according to Rucha and Paradie.

Paradie said Cox had not engaged previously in activity similar to the behavior for which she is being imprisoned.

Cox, who did not address the court Tuesday at her sentencing, will be required to be on the state’s sex offender registry for the rest of her life.

According to an affidavit filed by Maine State Police Special Agent David Armstrong, authorities began investigating the case after they discovered what they considered a sexually explicit photograph on Jandreau’s phone while they were investigating another case.

The sexual exploitation of a minor charges each allege both suspects “knowing or intending the conduct would be photographed, did intentionally or knowingly employ, solicit, entice, persuade, use, compel or induce by any threat” the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct.

All of the incidents are alleged to have occurred in August 2017 in Kennebec County.