St. Albans, ME – A St. Albans man has been sentenced following a yearlong investigation into a 2024 sexual assault case involving a juvenile victim, according to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said the case began on November 3, 2024, when patrol units responded to a report of a sexual assault involving 32-year-old Nicholas Estes and a juvenile female. After the initial report, the investigation was transferred to Detective Jeremy Leal for follow-up.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Detective Leal worked alongside the Department of Health and Human Services and the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kennebec and Somerset Counties during the investigation. Based on evidence gathered and interviews with those involved, Leal obtained an arrest warrant for Estes on a charge of Unlawful Sexual Contact, Class D. Estes was arrested on January 14, 2025.
Court records show Estes pled guilty on October 15, 2025, to the same charge. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 50 days suspended, and received one year of probation. As part of his probation, Estes must complete a sexual offender evaluation, attend counseling and treatment, and have no contact with minors or the victim. He is also required to register as a Tier 1 Sex Offender on the Maine Sex Offender Registry.
This case was investigated by the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with state and local child protection agencies.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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