BELFAST — A Belfast foster parent has been charged with gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact with a 9-year-old child, who had been placed in his care, an allegation stemming from a incident March 17, according to Belfast police.

Lawrence D. Oxton, 71, was arrested following a joint investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services and Belfast Police Department, according to Detective Bryan Cunningham.  

Belfast Police became involved after a DHHS referral in March. The investigation included a forensic interview with the child in Portland, Cunningham said. It was during the forensic interview that “the disclosure was made,” he said.  

Forensic interviewers are specially trained in interviewing children, so they don’t ask any leading questions, explained Cunningham.

The interview instead consists of “a structured conversation with a child intended to elicit detailed information about a possible event that the child may have experienced or witnessed,” according to the Child Advocacy Center. 

Belfast Police interviewed Oxton May 6, during which he denied all allegations, said Cunningham. The next day Oxton turned himself in to police. 

Erica Thoms can  be reached at news@penbaypilot.com