State of Maine v. Aaron A. Robshaw

2025 ME 50

• Court: Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
• Decided: June 17, 2025
• Docket: Pen-24-432
• Status: Published

Opinion

MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT Reporter of Decisions Decision: 2025 ME 50 Docket: Pen-24-432 Argued: May 6, 2025 Decided: June 17, 2025

Panel: STANFILL, C.J., and MEAD, HORTON, CONNORS, LAWRENCE, DOUGLAS, and LIPEZ, JJ.

STATE OF MAINE

v.

AARON A. ROBSHAW

MEAD, J.

[¶1] Aaron A. Robshaw appeals from a judgment of conviction, entered

by the trial court (Penobscot County, Mallonee, J.) following a jury trial, for gross

sexual assault (Class A), unlawful sexual contact (Class A), and unlawful sexual

contact (Class B). 17-A M.R.S. §§ 253(1)(C), 255-A(1)(E-1), (F-1) (2025).

Robshaw, with leave of the Sentence Review Panel, also appeals from his

sentence. Robshaw contends that the trial court improperly admitted expert

testimony concerning child victims’ delayed disclosure of sexual abuse,

misapplied the law in conducting Robshaw’s sentencing analysis, and abused

its discretion in imposing a period of supervised release. We affirm the

judgment, his sentence, and his period of supervised release. 2

I. BACKGROUND

[¶2] Viewed in the light most favorable to the State, the record

establishes the following facts. See State v. Cote, 2015 ME 78, ¶ 2, 118 A.3d 805.

[¶3] Robshaw was indicted on five counts each of gross sexual assault

and unlawful sexual contact against the victim in 2018 and 2019, when the

victim was ten and eleven years old. In 2019, the victim first told her mother

about an incident with Robshaw. Four years later, the victim revealed the full

extent of the sexual abuse committed by Robshaw to her mother and then

reported it to investigators.

[¶4] The court held a two-day trial in August 2024. The victim testified

that she would spend time with her mother’s best friend, Kerry Labelle, and

Labelle’s romantic partner, Aaron Robshaw, in Robshaw’s trailer while her

mother worked. The victim, Labelle, and Robshaw would typically watch TV on

a bed in the back bedroom of the trailer. Labelle would sometimes step out of

the room to smoke a cigarette or cook food, leaving the victim alone with

Robshaw. On multiple occasions, when Labelle was out of the room, Robshaw

engaged in physical contact with the victim that constituted sexual acts or

unlawful sexual contact as defined by statute and that was specifically alleged 3

in the indictment. 17-A M.R.S. §§ 251(1)(C), (D), 253(1)(C), 255-A(1)(E-1),

(F-1) (2025).

[¶5] During the trial, the State called a forensic interviewer from the

Cumberland County Children’s Advocacy Center to testify, in general and not in

terms specific to the case, regarding the topic of child victims’ delayed

disclosure of sexual abuse. The testimony was meant to explain the extent to

which and the reasons why children delay in disclosing incidents of sexual

abuse for years and may not disclose the full extent of the abuse all at once. The

court allowed the forensic interviewer to testify as an expert over Robshaw’s

objection that the expert’s testimony would impermissibly bolster the victim’s

credibility and was not necessary for the jury to understand the evidence.

[¶6] After the State rested its case, the court granted Robshaw’s motion

for judgment of acquittal as to count 2, one of the counts of gross sexual assault.

At the end of the trial, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on all of the remaining

counts. In September 2024, the court held a sentencing hearing at which the

court entered judgment and sentenced Robshaw to twenty years’

imprisonment followed by twenty years of supervised release. Robshaw timely

appealed and filed an application to allow an appeal of his sentence. See M.R. 4

App. P. 2B(b)(1), 20; 15 M.R.S. §§ 2115, 2151 (2025). The Sentence Review

Panel granted Robshaw leave to appeal from his sentence.

II. DISCUSSION

A. Expert Testimony about Delayed Disclosure

[¶7] Robshaw argues that the court abused its discretion in admitting an

expert witness’s testimony concerning child victims’ delayed disclosure of

sexual abuse because it impermissibly bolstered the victim’s credibility and

was not necessary in order for the jury to understand the evidence.

[¶8] Maine Rule of Evidence 702 allows “[a] witness who is qualified as

an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education [to] testify in

the form of an opinion or otherwise if such testimony will help the trier of fact

to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue.” “Whether proffered

evidence requires expert explanation is a question left to the discretion of the

trial court.” State v. Wyman, 2015 ME 1, ¶ 26, 107 A.3d 641.

[¶9] We have permitted courts to allow qualified experts to testify about

delayed disclosure in child sexual abuse cases because such testimony can

provide a useful explanation of counterintuitive and inconsistent behavior in

children. See State v. Preston, 581 A.2d 404, 407 (Me. 1990); State v. Black, 537

A.2d 1154, 1156 (Me. 1988); State v. Smith, 2024 ME 56, ¶¶ 28-29, 320 A.3d 5

405. To avoid improper bolstering of a victim’s credibility, we have recognized

that courts can require experts to limit the scope of their testimony by speaking

generally about a topic rather than applying their analysis to the victim. See

State v. Paquin, 2020 ME 53, ¶ 18, 230 A.3d 17 (holding that no unfair prejudice

or abuse of discretion resulted when a court limited an expert’s testimony “to

the subject of delayed disclosure in general—as opposed to an opinion as to

why the victim in [that] case may have made a late disclosure”), abrogated on

other grounds by State v. Armstrong, 2020 ME 97, ¶¶ 8-11, 237 A.3d 185;

Preston, 581 A.2d 404, 407 (Me. 1990) (holding that expert testimony that

“merely described the phenomena” of delayed disclosures was admissible “to

rebut an express or implied defense assertion that such counter-intuitive

behavior makes it improbable that either a crime was committed or that this

defendant committed the crime, even though it may also have had the effect of

bolstering the victim’s credibility” (alterations and quotation marks omitted)).

[¶10] Here, the victim ultimately revealed the full extent of the sexual

abuse committed by Robshaw four years after the abuse occurred. Because a

jury might wonder why a victim would take so long in coming forward, the

forensic interviewer’s testimony, based upon her knowledge and experience, 6

likely helped the jury to understand the evidence by providing context

regarding a potentially counterintuitive behavior in children.

[¶11] Like the expert in Paquin, the forensic interviewer limited the

scope of her testimony to a general explanation of delayed disclosure. 2020 ME

53, ¶ 18, 230 A.3d 17. The forensic interviewer avoided offering an opinion

concerning the victim’s disclosure in this case or commenting on whether

delayed disclosures were likely to be true. Together, these limitations avoided

crossing a line into impermissible bolstering of the victim’s credibility.

Accordingly, the court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the forensic

interviewer’s testimony.

B. Sentencing Analysis

[¶12] Robshaw argues that the court misapplied the law during its

sentencing analysis, resulting in an improperly harsh sentence. We review “the

determination of the basic sentence (1) de novo for misapplication of legal

principles and (2) for an abuse of the court’s sentencing power.” State v.

Bentley, 2021 ME 39, ¶ 10, 254 A.3d 1171 (citations and quotation marks

omitted).

[¶13] When sentencing a person convicted of a felony in Maine, the

sentencing court is required to perform the analysis prescribed in State v. 7

Hewey, 622 A.2d 1151, 1154-55 (Me. 1993) and codified at 17-A M.R.S.

§ 1602(1) (2025). State v. Ringuette, 2022 ME 61, ¶ 9, 288 A.3d 393. The Hewey

analysis consists of three steps:

(1) the court determines a basic term of imprisonment by considering the particular nature and seriousness of the offense as committed by the individual; (2) the court determines the maximum term of imprisonment to be imposed by considering all other relevant sentencing factors, both aggravating and mitigating, appropriate to the case; and (3) the court determines what portion, if any, of the maximum term of imprisonment should be suspended and, if a suspension order is to be entered, determine[s] the appropriate period of probation or administrative release to accompany that suspension.

Id. (ellipsis and quotation marks omitted).

[¶14] In cases of gross sexual assault involving a victim who has not yet

attained twelve years of age, the Legislature has mandated a basic term of

imprisonment of at least twenty years in step one of the Hewey analysis.

17-A M.R.S. § 1252(4-E) (2018); 17-A M.R.S. § 253-A(2) (2025).1 In State v.

1 Title 17-A M.R.S. § 1252(4-E) (2018) provided:

If the State pleads and proves that a crime under section 253 was committed against a person who had not yet attained 12 years of age, the court, notwithstanding subsection 2, shall impose a definite term of imprisonment for any term of years. In determining the basic term of imprisonment as the first step in the sentencing process, the court shall select a term of at least 20 years. The court shall also impose as part of the sentence a period of supervised release to immediately follow that definite term of imprisonment as mandated by section 1231.

Because the charged crimes occurred in 2018 and 2019, we apply the sentencing guidelines that were in effect then. See State v. Hardy, 489 A.2d 508, 512 (Me. 1985). Title 17-A M.R.S. § 1252(4-E) (2018) was repealed and replaced by P.L. 2019, ch. 113, §§ A-1, B-14 (emergency, effective May 16, 8

Parker, 2017 ME 28, ¶ 34, 156 A.3d 118, we affirmed a trial court’s sentencing

analysis in which it, in sentencing the defendant under the same statute, set the

basic term of imprisonment at twenty years in the first step and then imposed

a twenty-year sentence after evaluating the aggravating and mitigating factors

in the second step.

[¶15] Here, the trial court, in conducting its analysis, recognized that the

first step was prescribed by the Legislature and set the basic term of

imprisonment at the minimum of twenty years. The court then analyzed a

variety of aggravating and mitigating factors in step two of the analysis, finding

little in terms of mitigating factors and several aggravating factors, including

Robshaw’s harmful subjective impact on the victim and his criminal record,

which included a sex offense in 2004 and multiple failures to comply with

requirements for sex offender registration. The court then sentenced Robshaw

2019) (codified at 17-A M.R.S. § 253-A(2) (2025)). Title 17-A M.R.S. § 253-A(2) is essentially the same as the previous version, providing,

If the State pleads and proves that a crime under section 253 was committed against an individual who had not yet attained 12 years of age, the court shall impose a definite term of imprisonment for any term of years. In determining the basic term of imprisonment as the first step in the sentencing process specified in section 1602, subsection 1, paragraph A, the court shall select a definite term of at least 20 years. The court shall also impose as part of the sentence a period of supervised release to immediately follow that definite term of imprisonment as mandated by section 1881, subsection 1. 9

to twenty years’ imprisonment, choosing not to adjust the sentence based on

its findings related to the aggravating and mitigating factors.

[¶16] The trial court’s analysis was consistent with the sentencing

analysis we affirmed in Parker, 2017 ME 28, ¶ 34, 156 A.3d 118. Nonetheless,

Robshaw contends that by setting the basic sentence at a minimum of twenty

years and eliminating the need for the trial court to consider the particular

nature and seriousness of the offense, the Legislature has allowed for similar

sentences across a large range of situations (i.e., a case a involving a single event

that did not involve force at one end of the range and a case involving multiple

events, threats, violence, and genital penetration at the other). Robshaw argues

that as a result, he was denied meaningful proportionality review under the

Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article 1, section 9 of

the Maine Constitution.2 However, given the abjectly heinous and cruel nature

2 The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article 1, section 9 of the Maine Constitution can be implicated during sentencing, and both involve a proportionality analysis. See State v. Lopez, 2018 ME 59, ¶¶ 14-15, 184 A.3d 880; Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 59-60 (2010). In conducting a proportionality analysis pursuant to the Maine Constitution, we apply a two-part test:

First, we look to see whether a particular sentence is greatly disproportionate to the offense for which it is imposed, and second, if it is not greatly disproportionate, we examine whether it offends prevailing notions of decency. Only the most extreme punishment decided upon by the Legislature as appropriate for an offense could so offend or shock the collective conscience of the people of Maine as to be unconstitutionally disproportionate, or cruel and unusual.

State v. Asante, 2023 ME 24, ¶ 12, 294 A.3d 131 (alterations, citations, and quotation marks omitted). Similarly, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Eighth Amendment requires that, in conducting a 10

of an adult engaging in a sexual act with a child under the age of twelve, the

particular nature and seriousness of the act appropriately justifies the

Legislature’s policy decision that the basic sentence analysis starts at twenty

years. Moreover, the twenty-year minimum basic sentence may be adjusted

upward at step one, and either upward or downward at step two, depending on

the specific facts of the case. Nothing indicates that a twenty-year sentence is

greatly disproportionate to Robshaw’s crimes, nor does the sentence offend

prevailing notions of decency. See Parker, 2017 ME 28, ¶ 27, 156 A.3d 118

(noting that sixty-five-year and forty-year sentences for cases involving sexual

assaults committed against minors were not constitutionally disproportionate

and were not cruel or unusual punishment). Accordingly, the trial court did not

misapply legal principles or abuse its discretion in conducting its sentencing

analysis.

C. Supervised Release

[¶17] Robshaw contends that the trial court abused its discretion by

failing to conduct a sufficient analysis when it imposed a period of supervised

release with conditions.

disproportionality analysis, “[a] court must begin by comparing the gravity of the offense and the severity of the sentence.” Graham, 560 U.S. at 60. 11

[¶18] We “review [a] term of supervised release for misapplication of

principle to ensure that supervised release is not imposed as punishment for

the defendant’s substantive criminal conduct, and for an abuse of discretion

concerning the analytical factors selected by the court as appropriate; the

length of the resulting term of supervised release; and the conditions imposed

on that term.” State v. Cook, 2011 ME 94, ¶ 31, 26 A.3d 834.

[¶19] In imposing a period of supervised release, we require trial courts

“to consider statutory sentencing factors appropriate to its primary purpose of

supervision and rehabilitation.” Id. ¶ 29. These sentencing factors include “the

nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of

the defendant; the need for deterrence and to protect the public; the

defendant’s need for educational or vocational training, medical care, or other

correctional treatment; and the need to provide restitution to victims.” Id. ¶ 27

(quotation marks omitted) (summarizing federal sentencing guidelines); see

also 17-A M.R.S. § 1501 (2025) (enumerating the purposes of sentencing in

Maine).

[¶20] Title 17-A M.R.S. § 1252(4-E) required trial courts to impose a

period of supervised release in accordance with 17-A M.R.S. § 1231 (2018) and 12

conditions for the supervised release in accordance with 17-A M.R.S. § 1232

(2018).3 Section 1231(1-A)-(2) stated in pertinent part:

[T]he court shall impose as part of the sentence a requirement that a defendant convicted of violating section 253, subsection 1, paragraph C be placed on a period of supervised release after imprisonment. . . .

The authorized period of supervised release is . . . [l]ife for a person sentenced under section 1252, subsection 4-E.

Section 1232 provided that in imposing a period of supervised release, the

court “shall set conditions of supervised release. . . . The court may also set

conditions of supervised release that it determines to be reasonable and

appropriate to manage the person’s behavior.”

[¶21] Here, the trial court imposed a twenty-year period of supervised

release. In making its decision, the court stated,

And the reason for this, Mr. Robshaw, is I don’t know how else to keep people safe from you.

If you had . . . suffered the consequences of your first sex offense and if you had reformed, as people do, . . . then we would not be

3 Title 17-A M.R.S. § 1252(4-E) (2018) (the statute governing sentencing for gross sexual assault)

and 17-A M.R.S. § 1231 (2018) (the statute governing supervised release for sex offenders) were repealed and replaced effective May 16, 2019. See supra n.1; P.L. 2019, ch. 113, §§ A-1, A-2. Section 1231, the statute governing supervised release for sex offenders convicted under 17-A M.R.S. § 253(1)(C) (2018), was replaced by P.L. 2019, ch. 113, § A-2 with 17-A M.R.S. § 1881(1) (2025). Although the wording has changed slightly, the supervised release requirements are essentially the same. Compare 17-A M.R.S. § 1231(1-A), (2)(C) (2018), with 17-A M.R.S. § 1881(1) (2025). Both statutes authorize a court to impose a lifetime period of supervised release on a person convicted of gross sexual assault on someone who has not yet attained twelve years of age. 13

here, but you couldn’t do that, and you couldn’t comply with the registration obligations, and now you’ve committed this offense, and you’ve hurt this girl, and you’ve hurt her family, and you’ve hurt everybody that cares about you. And I don’t know how else to prevent that from happening other than to put you under supervision for a very long time.

Given your age, there’s going to come a point where . . . you’ll be younger when your supervision ends than I am now, but you will be old enough so it’s unlikely you will reoffend.

Although the trial court’s determination did not discuss every possible factor,

it did discuss the need to protect the public from future crimes, the nature and

circumstances of the offense in relation to Robshaw’s previous crimes, and the

likelihood of Robshaw’s rehabilitation. See Cook, 2011 ME 94, ¶ 28, 26 A.3d

834; 17-A M.R.S. § 1501. Considering Robshaw’s history of sexual assault, his

failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, and his age when

he completes his sentence, the trial court’s analysis was appropriate and

reasonable under the circumstances. Furthermore, nothing suggests that the

court’s imposition of this period of supervision or its conditions were intended

to punish Robshaw. See Cook, 2011 ME 94, ¶ 31, 26 A.3d 834. Accordingly, the

court did not misapply legal principles or abuse its discretion in imposing

Robshaw’s term of supervised release.

The entry is:

Judgment affirmed. 14

James M. Mason, Esq. (orally), Handelman & Mason LLC, Brunswick, for appellant Aaron A. Robshaw

R. Christopher Almy, District Attorney, and Mark A. Rucci, Asst. Dist. Atty. (orally), Prosecutorial District V, Bangor, for appellee State of Maine

Penobscot County Unified Criminal Docket docket number CR-2021-510 FOR CLERK REFERENCE ONLY