Former educator jailed on abuse charges

CARIBOU – A former SAD 1 educational technician has served seven days in jail after pleading guilty last month to four of five charges of sexually abusing teen-age boys and giving them liquor.

Stephanie Arsenault, 26, of Presque Isle is on probation for two years, according to Carrie L. Linthicum, Aroostook County assistant district attorney.

Arsenault originally was charged with three counts of sexual abuse of a minor, and one count each of endangering the welfare of a child and furnishing liquor to a minor. One count of sexual abuse of a minor was dismissed.

Two of the victims were said to have been between 14 and 16 years old and the third was between 16 and 18.

Arsenault was sentenced to a total of 18 months in Aroostook County Jail, all suspended but seven days, and two years probation, Linthicum said. The defendant started serving her time on Dec. 7.

Arsenault was charged with the five misdemeanors last March. The incidents happened in the summer of 1999, Linthicum said. The investigation had been announced in December 2000.

“The time lapses occurred because the incidents were not reported until quite some time after they happened,” Linthicum said Thursday.

Arsenault was a teacher’s aide during the 1999 school year at Skyway Middle School in Presque Isle and worked at the Presque Isle High School lunch program during the summer of 1999.

Linthicum said the incidents did not happen while she was a teacher of the three students, although she did meet the kids through her work. None of the incidents occurred on school property.

Two of the victims were from Presque Isle, and the third was from another community, which was not identified.

Arsenault resigned from the district after an internal investigation.