Police Investigating Alleged Sexual Assault on Augusta Trail

According to a press release from the Augusta Police Department, at about 7 a.m. on Monday (July 1), law enforcement officers responded to the report of an alleged sexual assault on the Kennebec River Rail Trail in Augusta.

The responding officers from the Augusta Police Department and Maine State Police found that a person had intervened to stop the assault of an adult female.

The person who had intervened was rendering aid to the victim, and the suspect had fled the scene.

The press release goes on to say:

Upon the arrival of the Augusta Police Officers, a witness “Good Samaritan” intervened to render aid to the female victim. The suspect fled on foot and was later identified as James W. Oliver

Oliver, who is reportedly 57 years old, was later apprehended. The press release explains that Oliver is a transient from Lincoln County Maine, and that he has been charged with several crimes, including Gross Sexual Assault, Unlawful Sexual Contact, and Criminal Threatening.

Oliver will be held at the Kennebec County Jail without bail.

There is no word on the condition of the victim.

*NOTE - All suspects are considered innocent until being found guilty in a court of law

The Kennebec River Rail Trail, which runs adjacent to the mighty Kennebec River, parallels an inactive stretch of railway tracks that used to connect Central Maine with Portland.

The paved trail makes a great place to walk or ride your bike.

Currently, the trail runs from Augusta to Gardiner. In recent years, however, there have been discussions about extending the trail to run all the way to the coast.