A Belgrade man has been charged with sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in that town after allegedly communicating with her on social media, Maine State Police said Friday.
Travis Gerrier, 21, of 408 Smithfield Road, was charged with gross sexual assault and supplying alcohol to a minor following his arrest Friday by state police Detective Ryan Brockway.
In a news release, state police said troopers responded to a report last week of a missing 11-year-old girl in Belgrade. Troopers joined the family for a brief search of the area until Gerrier and the girl were found a short distance from the home in an outbuilding, police said. They had consumed alcohol prior to being discovered, according to Steve McCausland, spokesman for state police.
Gerrier knew the girl and was corresponding with her through Facebook, McCausland said.
According to McCausland, authorities said the incident highlights advice they always give to parents, that “you got to be aware who your kids are talking to” on social media.
“Although in this case it’s a little deceiving, because the two already knew each other,” he said.
On his Facebook page, Gerrier posted on June 3 that he is a “hellhound” and stated, “I love porn.”
Gerrier was being held Friday at the Kennebec County jail in lieu of $2,000 cash bail.
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