BY AMY CALDER

Staff Writer

A Winslow man faces seven counts of gross sexual assault that allegedly occurred over the last five years against two girls under the age of 18.

Kenneth Elwood Sylvester, 42, of 838 Abbott Road, Winslow, was arrested at 9:44 p.m. Thursday as he was driving. He was taken to Kennebec County Jail in Augusta, where he remained Friday evening on $25,000 surety or $10,000 cash bail.

District Attorney Evert Fowle said Sylvester is scheduled to appear in Kennebec County Superior Court at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 5.

"He can have no contact with females under 18, no use or possession of drugs, no contact with victims and witnesses and must submit to random searches and testing for drugs," Fowle said.

Winslow Police Detective Gina Henderson said Friday that the girls reported the gross sexual assaults -- also known as rape -- to police in June and they said the assaults had been ongoing from the time they were about 14 years old.

"The girls came forward and disclosed they both had been sexually assaulted," Henderson said. "These girls are the sweetest girls on the face of the earth."

Henderson said she has been working on the case with the Kennebec County District Attorney's Office.

"It's still a very active investigation," she said.

Winslow police were notified Thursday of a warrant for Sylvester's arrest, after which Officer Haley Fleming stopped him on Abbott Road and arrested him.

Sylvester was indicted by the grand jury on Thursday. Police initially charged him with eight counts of gross sexual assault; Fowle said it is not uncommon for the number of charges to change in the indictment.

"He'll have counsel appointed," he said. "Once he gets his attorney, they can ask that the bail be reduced prior to Jan. 5."

Fowle said he will recommend Sylvester's bail remain the same as it is now.

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com