ROCKLAND – A 28-year-old man who was arrested following an investigation that began two weeks ago after an 8-year-old child was sexually assaulted in Camden made his first court appearance Oct. 14.

Nicholas Emerson, 28, of Otisfield, appeared before Judge Charles Dow in Knox County Unified Court who set his cash bail at $50,000. Emerson was charged with two counts of gross sexual assault, a Class A offense and five counts of unlawful sexual contact, a Class B offense, according to court documents.

Camden Police Detective Curt Andrick began the investigation after he was notified of a sexual abuse referral received at the Knox County District Attorney’s Office from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Emerson was arrested Oct. 10 by Maine State Police at his home and transported from Augusta to the Knox County Jail by Andrick.

According to court documents, Emerson confessed to the sexual assaults during his transport to jail and also during a recorded telephone phone call with his girlfriend.

Emerson will make his next court appearance Dec. 18 at a dispositional conference.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com