WATERVILLE (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- A Kennebec County grand jury on Tuesday indicted 35-year-old Jennifer Stevens and 36-year-old Michael Stevens of Waterville on multiple charges of gross sexual assault spanning multiple years and multiple locations.
The indictment states that between October 2010 and October 2013 Jennifer Stevens engaged in sexual acts with two minors before either of them had reached the age of 12.
According to the indictment, she also engaged in a sexual act with a third minor in 2017 who at the time was not yet 12 years old.
The indictment further states that Michael Stevens engaged in sexual acts with children, identified by the same initials in the indictment, between the same periods of time as Jennifer Stevens.
Waterville Police Deputy Chief William Bonney said the couple is married, and that they received a report of the alleged abuse months ago, and launched an investigation. Bonney said police are "familiar" with the couple, but would not say to what extent.
Deputy Chief Bonney said Maine's Department of Health and Human Services had been involved in the case, but would not say to what extent.
He said generally, in cases like this, police put child victims in touch with the Children's Advocacy Center of Kennebec and Somerset Counties.
Those advocates conduct a forensic interview of non-leading questions in a way that is not traumatic for the survivors.
"I think in every case we try to do a professional job so we can properly serve the community and that we can give the victims of cases the justice that they deserve.
said Deputy Chief Bonney. "We get people indicted, but then comes the long, arduous process of preparing for trial and building a case beyond a reasonable doubt."
Police said the victims are safe at this time. District Attorney Maeghan Maloney was not available for comment. Both are still being held at the Kennebec County Jail. Jennifer Stevens' next court date is May 17. Michael is set to appear is May 24.