Lewiston man guilty in child-sex cases

AUBURN – A Lewiston man found guilty of 18 sex-related crimes involving children was being held without bail in the Androscoggin County Jail while awaiting a sentence that could keep him behind bars for the rest of his life.

Jurors in Superior Court deliberated for nine hours over two days before finding Raymond Samson, 54, guilty Friday of all charges against him. He faces a maximum of more than 70 years, the equivalent of a life sentence.

“It should be,” said the mother of an 11-year-old victim who had testified about how he was sexually abused by Samson during summer nights spent at his Webster Street home while his parents were working.

The charges against Samson included six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of gross sexual assault, three counts of unlawful sexual contact and one count each of visual sexual aggression, sexual abuse of a minor, unlawful sexual touching, falsifying evidence and violating conditions of release.

Assistant District Attorney Deborah Cashman suggested to Justice Ellen Gorman that Samson undergo a psychological examination before she recommends a sentence.

Cashman said the state plans to seek consecutive sentences on the six sexual exploitation counts, each of which carries a minimum five-year prison term.

Samson has other sex charges pending, three of them stemming from incidents in 1999.

All six victims, five boys and a girl, took the stand during the three days in which the prosecution detailed its case.