The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the conviction of Kenneth M. Chase Jr. on nine criminal counts, including three counts of gross sexual assault against his own daughter, rejecting his appeals arguments in a decision issued Sept. 30.
Chase was convicted by a Sagadahoc County jury on three counts of gross sexual assault, three counts of domestic violence assault, and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The convictions stemmed from sexual assaults Chase committed against his daughter when she was a minor.
On appeal, Chase raised two primary arguments challenging his conviction and sentencing. First, he argued that the trial court committed obvious error by failing to instruct the jury regarding specific unanimity. Second, he contended that the court erred in its sentencing analysis by double counting the fact that he committed multiple sexual assaults.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court, in an opinion written by Justice Lawrence, rejected both arguments and affirmed the lower court's judgment. The panel included Chief Justice Stanfill and Justices Mead, Connors, Lawrence, Douglas, and Lipez.
According to court records, the evidence viewed in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict showed that Chase sexually assaulted his daughter numerous times over multiple years. The victim testified that Chase assaulted her more times than she could count, with the earliest assault she could remember occurring when she was in second grade.
The victim provided testimony about one particularly disturbing incident that occurred around the same time period when she and Chase were in a Hannaford parking lot and engaged in sexual acts. Following this incident, Chase told his daughter to check her underwear for blood, according to court documents.
The specific charges in the indictment focused on three distinct incidents of sexual assault that occurred when the victim was 16 years old. The victim provided detailed testimony about these specific incidents that formed the basis of the criminal charges.
In addressing Chase's jury instruction challenge, the court found no obvious error in the trial court's handling of unanimity instructions. The specific unanimity requirement ensures that all jurors agree on the particular criminal act that forms the basis of each count when multiple similar acts are alleged.
Chase's second argument centered on his sentencing, where he claimed the court improperly engaged in double counting by considering his commission of multiple sexual assaults as an aggravating factor. In criminal sentencing, double counting occurs when the same factor is used both to establish the underlying offense and as an aggravating circumstance for enhanced punishment.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court found no error in the sentencing court's analysis, determining that the consideration of multiple sexual assaults did not constitute improper double counting under state sentencing guidelines.
The case highlights the complex legal issues that arise in multi-count sexual assault prosecutions, particularly when they involve family members and multiple incidents over extended time periods. Courts must carefully balance ensuring fair trial procedures while allowing victims to testify about patterns of abuse.
Jury instruction challenges are common in sexual assault cases involving multiple alleged incidents, as defense attorneys often seek to ensure that jurors clearly understand they must unanimously agree on specific acts rather than finding guilt based on a general pattern of conduct.
Sentencing challenges in multi-count cases also frequently arise when defendants argue that courts are improperly punishing them twice for the same conduct. However, courts generally distinguish between using multiple acts to establish separate offenses versus using them as aggravating factors in sentencing.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court's decision reinforces the state's approach to handling complex sexual assault prosecutions while maintaining appropriate procedural safeguards for defendants. The court's affirmation of the conviction demonstrates confidence in the trial court's handling of both the jury instructions and sentencing analysis.
This case was argued before the court on May 7, 2025, with the decision issued on Sept. 30, 2025. The case was docketed as Sag-24-362, reflecting its origins in Sagadahoc County Superior Court where the original trial took place before Associate Justice Hjelm.
The affirmation of Chase's conviction means his sentences on all nine counts will stand, providing closure for the victim and her family while upholding the integrity of Maine's criminal justice system in handling serious sexual assault cases involving family members.