PALERMO — Waldo County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Jason Baldwin, 38, of Palermo Aug. 2 on a charge of sexual abuse of a minor. Chief Deputy Jeff Trafton said his office received the first complaint July 28 from a Palermo woman, who reported her neighbor was “obsessed” with her 16-year-old daughter and kept coming to a window at her home to speak with the girl despite being asked not to.

When the Sheriff’s Office investigated the complaint, the girl allegedly admitted having a sexual relationship with Baldwin. At that point, Trafton said, the case was reassigned to a detective, who discovered the affair had begun when the girl was 15, which is under the age of consent.

The detective re-interviewed Baldwin Aug. 2, at which point he was told he would be placed under arrest.

“At that point,” Trafton said, “[Baldwin] became upset, resisted the arrest and ran into his home, locking the door behind him.”

Initially the detective worried the situation would result in a stand-off, however, Trafton said Baldwin’s parents arrived at the residence soon after and were able to convince him to surrender.

In addition to the sexual abuse charge, Baldwin was charged with resisting arrest or detention.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com.