NEWPORT – A Newport man who lived in a child-filled trailer park and was a state foster parent has been arrested for allegedly raping and molesting young children. Police say the alleged victims could number in the hundreds and incidents could reach back 20 years or more.

Dale A. Vincent, 45, of Newport made his first appearance Friday in 3rd District Court in Bangor, charged with three counts of gross sexual assault and one count of unlawful sexual contact. He was ordered held on $50,000 single surety or $5,000 cash bail.

Vincent also was ordered not to return to the Elm Street trailer park where he was living or to have contact with any child under age 14.

Newport Police Chief James Ricker said that Vincent was “an authorized caregiver for DHS” but that the Maine Department of Human Services was unaware of the alleged activity.

Ricker said the case involves five children between ages 5 and 14. Some of the victims have told of 20 to 90 sexual encounters with Vincent and are traumatized, the police chief said.

Ricker said that at the time of his arrest, Vincent was caring for one child only on weekends. DHS immediately removed that child from Vincent’s care when police reported their investigation.

An alleged victim now out of Vincent’s care notified authorities of a sexual attack and prompted the intensive investigation.

Ricker is appealing that anyone with information about such activity come forward.

“We know there are multiple victims out there,” the police chief said, “and we anticipate many, many other charges against Mr. Vincent before this investigation is over.”

Ricker said Vincent has lived in Newport for eight to 10 years and previously lived in Bangor.

“We are asking anyone that may have been victimized by this [alleged] sexual predator to come forward. Their disclosures can be confidential,” said the chief.

Anyone with information may contact Lt. Gary Morin at 368-3263.