Maine ex-gubernatorial candidate jailed again in child sex

ELLSWORTH, Maine (WGME) -- Convicted sex offender and two-time Maine gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler returned to jail on Thursday where he's set to spend the next 73 days.

Cutler, 80, was convicted of possessing sexually explicit images of children in 2023. Prosecutors said he possessed 80,000 images of children being sexually assaulted.

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He was originally sentenced to four years but only served nine months behind bars before being placed on probation.

Cutler has been accused of violating his probation conditions multiple times since last September. The state has accused Cutler of six probation violations, however, all but three were dismissed.

Last month, a Hancock County judge ordered Cutler to return to Hancock County Jail on Oct. 15 for a six-month sentence, however, he'll get credit for about 107 days of time already served for his probation arrests.

The judge said Cutler is showing a lack of accountability which warrants serving more time in jail.

Cutler was awarded a stay to get his affairs in order before returning to jail, according to the Bangor Daily News. He still has about 33 months of probation left on his sentence.

Court documents show Cutler was arrested for refusing to sign a contract as part of specialized problematic sexual behavior therapy. However, in June, the court did not find probable cause that Cutler violated his probation for a sixth time. The judge decided to amend Cutler's bail, ruling he did not have to participate in the specialized therapy.

In September 2025, Cutler allegedly violated his probation conditions for the first time by visiting a website for a massage parlor and completing a survey for a sexual escort, according to court documents.

According to court documents, Cutler visited the website of a massage parlor in the San Francisco area and answered questions about his preferences in an escort, including her race, age, and other more explicit details.

According to court documents, Cutler timed the request to coincide with a trip to California, claiming he wanted to see elderly friends.

Cutler was accused of violating his probation for second time on Oct. 2, 2025, by accessing sexually explicit material online and using unmonitored devices. His internet usage is monitored as part of his probation conditions.

Cutler was arrested in February after he was allegedly caught at a South Portland hotel with pornographic DVDs, violating the terms of his probation for a third time.

Following his February arrest, Cutler was "unsatisfactorily discharged" from his court-ordered sexual behavior treatment, qualifying as his fourth alleged release violation.

Cutler's fifth probation violation allegedly involved accessing several electronic devices and his refusal to provide accurate password to his probation officer, which prevented the state from searching his computer.