If no lawyer is listed, call 918-582-6422 and MoreLaw will help you find a lawyer for free.

Description: Portland, Maine criminal law lawyer represented Defendant charged with traveling to Maine to have sex with a minor.

In August 2020, Devin James Melycher, age 30, drove from his residence in Connecticut to Gorham, Maine to engage in sexual conduct with the minor victim. The trip followed weeks of contact between Melycher and the victim over Snapchat and other chat platforms during which time Melycher, who initially told the victim he was 19, pressured the victim to send sexually explicit images despite knowing the victim was only 13.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Gorham Police Department investigated the case.

“The evidence in this case showed that Devin Melycher is a sexual predator who indiscriminately distributed pornographic images of his body across chat platforms without regard to who received them or whether or not they were of legal age in an attempt to interact with them,” McElwee said. “He preyed upon minors, groomed them, and in the case of this victim, traveled to engage in illegal sexual acts despite knowing the victim was only 13.”

McElwee furthered warned parents of the growing role the internet and chat platforms play in exposing children to predators like Melycher.

“The internet opens up the world to our children, but it also exposes them to the world at a time when they may not be mature enough to understand or handle to consequences,” McElwee said. “Predators are increasingly using social media, apps and gaming platforms to find and access victims, and the consequences can be lifechanging and tragic. Parents should remain vigilant and talk to their kids – often and repeatedly – about online safety, including why they should never engage online in any way with someone that they haven’t met in real life. It is so important that they know that images they share never really go away online and that they can and should confide in an adult they trust if anyone onli

TRAVEL WITH INTENT TO ENGAGE IN ILLICIT SEXUAL CONDUCT 18:2423(b)
(1)

Outcome: Defendant sentenced to 135 months imprisonment, 10 years supervised release, $100 special assessment.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: