Maine firefighter facing arson, sexual assault charges

Griffin Kline, 20, was indicted on one count of gross sexual assault on a minor under the age of 14, and one count of sexual abuse of a minor who is 14; he was placed on leave after his arrest

November 22, 2013 02:32 AM

Portland Press Herald

PORTLAND, Maine — A Falmouth part-time firefighter arrested this week on an arson charge is also facing charges of sexual assault against a minor, court records show.

Griffin Kline, 20, of Woodlands Drive in Falmouth, was indicted Nov. 8 on one count of gross sexual assault on a minor under the age of 14, and one count of sexual abuse of a minor who is 14, according to the Cumberland County Unified Criminal Court in Portland. Authorities allege that between Sept. 1, 2012, and July 24, 2013, Kline engaged in a sexual act with a minor under the age of 14 in New Gloucester. On July 25, 2013, Kline allegedly engaged in another sexual act with a minor. The victim in each case has the same birth date. Kline did not immediately return a message left at his Falmouth home seeking comment.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 10 on the sexual assault charges. Kline, 20, has served with the Falmouth Fire Department since June 2011, but was placed on leave soon after a Sept. 14 fire in which he was named a suspect. That blaze destroyed a wooden restroom structure at the Woodlands Club golf course. He has no criminal history prior to 2011. Falmouth police said Kline turned himself in Wednesday to the police station and was subsequently released, according to Town Manager Nathan Poore.

His arraignment on the arson charge is Jan. 16. The fire at the Woodlands Club golf course, which was not discovered until the next morning by Woodlands staff, caused about $30,000 in damage. That fire happened several hours after the town responded to a suspicious Dumpster fire at 161 Woodlands Drive in Falmouth. Since he was placed on leave following the golf course blaze, Kline has not been allowed to respond to fire calls and has been prohibited from entering town property, Poore said.

He has no association with the Falmouth Fire Department or its Emergency Medical Services Department. Kline was a call firefighter, who are part-timers who receive an hourly wage for each fire they respond to.

“Fighting fires and ensuring the safety of all people in this community is what we dedicate our lives to doing, so it is particularly disturbing to discover that the perpetrator was one of our own,” Fire Chief Howard Rice said in a statement.