PARIS — An Oxford man appeared in Oxford County Superior Court on Tuesday on charges he sexually assaulted a woman with learning disabilities twice in the past year.

Marshall W. Francis, 65, was arrested Saturday at his home by Oxford Police Department Sgt. Alan Coffin on two charges of gross sexual assault. Bail was set at $2,500 cash and Francis is to have no contact with the victim or anyone under age 18.

If convicted, he faces a maximum 40 years in prison on both counts.

As of Tuesday night, Francis remained at the Oxford County Jail in Paris, a corrections officer said.

According to a police report by Coffin, a woman told police this past weekend that she had been raped by Francis on multiple occasions over the past four years. She said Francis had forced her to have sex with him twice in the past year, most recently two weeks ago.

Marshall denied the accusations and was taken to the jail, according to Coffin. 

Marshall has no prior criminal history. 

Court documents state Francis is a bus driver for Regional School Unit 16, comprised of the towns Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland.

According to the school district’s website, Francis transports students at Elm Street School, which has prekindergarten to sixth grades, in Mechanic Falls. 

School Superintendent Tina Meserve said Tuesday evening that Francis has been put on administrative leave pending the outcome of the police investigation. She said the school received an anonymous tip about Francis’ arrest and called the Oxford County Jail to confirm it.

She said the safety of students is paramount and the charges do not appear to involve an RSU 16 student.

ccrosby@sunjournal.com