Sex offenders indicted

OXFORD COUNTY - Timothy H. Turner, a 45-year-old Norway man, has been charged with gross sexual assault on a 15-year-old girl who was a friend of his daughter.

According to Norway Police Detective Gary Hill, Turner went to Massachusetts to bring his teenage daughters to Maine for a visit. The daughters brought a friend. When the friend returned home, she told her mother that Turner had given her liquor and marijuana, before forcing her to have intercourse with him. Her mother informed the Massachusetts State Police

The victim, not being familiar with the Oxford Hills, had difficulty describing where the incident had taken place. However, the troopers connected with the Oxford Police Department, which investigated and then referred the troopers to their Norway counterparts.

By the time it was determined which Maine agency had jurisdiction, a Massachusetts court had issued an order of protection for the teenager, to prevent Turner from contacting her. Hill said that due to the court order being in place, Turner was not placed under arrest here in Maine at this time. He is scheduled to make an initial court appearance in Oxford County Superior Court in November.

The detective said Turner has a history of arrests for alcohol-related and/or violent offenses, but was not a registered sex offender. A class "A" felony can result in a 30-year prison term.

Also indicted by the Grand Jury after an investigation by Detective Hill, was Brian Larson, 34, of Norway, who is charged with violating the sex offender registration act for the second time. Hill explained that a first offense violation of the registration act is a misdemeanor, but a second offense is a felony.

Hill said he discovered that Larson was working in Mechanic Falls, but hadn't informed either the Norway or Mechanic Falls police of his employment. That oversight alone put him in trouble with the law, according to Hill. However, his employer had sent Larson to a job in Taunton, MA, where he should have registered, but didn't, leading Hill to ask the grand jury to indict the man.

If convicted, Larson could face up to five years in prison.

Timothy H. Turner Photo: Oxford County Jail photo

Timothy H. Turner, 45, of Norway, was indicted by the Oxford County Grand Jury for gross sexual assault, aggravated unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugsand sexual abuse of a minor.

Brian Larson Photo: Oxford County Jail photo

Brian J. Larson, 34, of Norway, was indicted failure to comply with the sex offender registration act.