BELMONT — A Belmont man was arrested July 26 after allegedly admitting he had an ongoing sexual relationship with an underage girl two summers ago.

Christopher F. Beeton, 30, has been charged with gross sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a minor in relation to the relationship, which reportedly took place in the summer of 2016.

The case came to the attention of the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office after they received a referral from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the now-15-year-old.

During a subsequent interview with Deputy Jordan Tozier, the girl disclosed that she had a sexual relationship with Beeton from June through August of 2016 when she was 13 and Beeton was 27. Tozier was able to view conversations between the two on social media that corroborated her statements.

In his affidavit Tozier wrote that Beeton and the victim had also exchanged pictures showing each nude or partially nude, resulting in the charge of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Beeton’s first court appearance is scheduled in Waldo County Unified Court Aug. 24.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com