SKOWHEGAN — A Unity man has been sentenced to serve at least 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting an extended family member who was then 12 years old.

Jesse J. Harvey Somerset County Jail photo

Jesse J. Harvey, 31, was sentenced Thursday for one Class A count of gross sexual assault. After he gets out of prison, Harvey must serve 10 years of supervised release.

Harvey pleaded guilty in December as part of a partial plea deal in which prosecutors agreed to cap their requested sentence at 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release.

Lynn Madison, Harvey’s defense lawyer, and prosecutors had planned to argue for their proposed sentences Thursday morning at Somerset County Superior Court in Skowhegan.

But Harvey waived that argument Thursday and agreed to the sentence prosecutors had proposed as the cap, as the victim of the sexual assault had made more disclosures about Harvey to the district attorney’s office since Harvey entered the guilty plea in December, Superior Court Chief Justice Robert E. Mullen said in court.

Mullen called those new complaints, which did not factor into the sentence he imposed Thursday, “disturbing at best and despicable at worst.”

Timothy Snyder, the first assistant district attorney for the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office, said those complaints are under investigation, and no additional charges have been filed yet.

As for the charge for which Harvey was sentenced, Mullen said the plea deal was favorable for Harvey. Had both sides argued for a sentence after a plea or a trial, Harvey likely would have received a lengthier sentence, closer to the 30-year maximum allowed under state statute, Mullen said.

“You are very fortunate that your attorney negotiated this sentence, with your agreement,” Mullen told Harvey.

Mullen gave Harvey credit for pleading guilty, rather than forcing the victim to testify at a trial, and for showing some remorse.

But Harvey did not seem to understand the consequences of his actions, and he claimed the sexual assault was provoked, and he did nothing to hurt the victim, Mullen said, referencing a report submitted by a state forensic service practitioner

During his supervised release, Harvey is prohibited from having contact with the victim; having contact with anyone younger than 18, and nonsupervised contact with his own children; being in places where children congregate; engaging with businesses, organizations or services that work with children; and consuming alcohol and using illegal drugs.

Harvey is also required to undergo sexual offender counseling and treatment, and must register as a sexual offender for the rest of his life.

If Harvey violates those terms while on supervised release, he could be required to serve an additional 10 years in prison.

Harvey was arrested in April 2024, and has been held at the Somerset County Jail in Madison.

Snyder said in court when Harvey pleaded guilty in December that Harvey had a sexual relationship with the victim when she was 12. Harvey is married to a family member of the victim, Snyder said.

The Morning Sentinel does not identify victims of sexual assault without their consent.

Last year, the victim, then 16, told police about a previous sexual relationship she had with Harvey between Aug. 1 and Dec. 1, 2020, Snyder said.

The Somerset County grand jury indictment handed up in May alleged the gross sexual assault in that time frame occurred in the Somerset County town of Detroit. The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office initially said it occurred in Hartland.

Detective Jeremy Leal of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office interviewed Harvey, who admitted to the sexual assault and said the two performed oral sex on each other when the girl was 12 years old, Snyder said. The sexual relationship then stopped until the victim turned 16, Harvey reportedly told Leal.

Harvey told Leal that he knew his actions were wrong, but he could not control himself, Snyder said.

The girl, reading a written statement in court Thursday, said the sexual assault has had  a significant impact on her life. She said she no longer has peace and has lost her relationship with other family members.

Harvey’s assault made her feel empty, and she sees him in her dreams, she said. Harvey used her and “left (her) like trash,” she said.

She also said, “All my pain is because of you.”

Mullen appeared to listen carefully as the girl spoke. He praised her for speaking articulately in court. He also encouraged her to try to move on with her life, even with all that has happened to her.

“I don’t think I’m overstating: You’ve suffered enough,” Mullen told her. “But now it’s going to be … up to you to decide which way you’re going to go. Whether you’re just going to stay a victim, which would be understandable. Or, instead, you’ve got this background that’s happened to you, but you’re going to overcome it. I think you can. I hope you can.”

Neither Harvey nor his lawyer, Madison, made a statement in court about the crime to which Harvey had pleaded guilty.

“No apology?” Mullen asked Harvey.

“I am sorry,” Harvey responded, speaking softly.