Topsfield man sentenced for unlawful sexual contact

MACHIAS – A 39-year-old Topsfield man charged with unlawful sexual contact was sentenced Friday to one year in prison.

Jeffrey Horton must report with the State Bureau of Identification’s sex offender registry. The Topsfield man started his sentence Friday.

On Feb. 2, 2004, the Department of Health and Human Services notified the Maine State Police that a girl, who was 10 at the time, told classmates Horton had sexually abused her.

According to an affidavit on file with the court, sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving the year before, the girl was asleep in Horton’s room and when she awoke, a video appeared on the television that showed two naked women.

The 10-year-old said a few weeks later she again fell asleep in Horton’s room, and when she awoke, Horton was under the covers with her. She alleged that he had inappropriate contact with her.

The young girl told police she had seen pornographic pictures on Horton’s computer. “She said some of them showed people with clothes on and some did not,” the affidavit said.

Horton initially denied any inappropriate sexual contract with the victim, although he confirmed the 10-year-old occasionally had slept in his bed.

Police found a CD that contained images they described as child pornography. “They showed Mr. Horton that material,” the affidavit said. “He hung his head and admitted he had a fantasy for young girls.”

Paul Cavanaugh, first assistant district attorney, said Monday it was a classmate who told some adults. They alerted police. “It’s important to listen to our kids,” he said.