NORTHPORT – The town’s longtime animal control officer was ordered held without bail after a Waldo County Superior Court jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting a young girl.

The jury deliberated four hours Tuesday before finding Raymond Tucker Sr., 62, of Northport guilty of one count each of gross sexual assault, unlawful sexual contact and visual sexual aggression against a child. Tucker had been charged with two counts each of the three offenses.

The assaults took place in Northport in 2004 and 2005, when the victim was 8 and 9 years old. Now 12, the girl testified against Tucker during the two-day trial, Deputy District Attorney Eric Walker said Wednesday.

Walker said that Justice Jeffrey Hjelm ordered Tucker held without bail despite the fact that Tucker had no prior criminal history. He said Hjelm stated that he did so because Tucker was now a convicted sex offender who was untreated and in denial and posed a potential threat to others in the community.

Sentencing was continued indefinitely and a forensic study and presentencing examination was ordered by Hjelm. Tucker is being held at the Waldo County Jail.

wgriffin@bangordailynews.net

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