Hodgdon Man Charged With Scalding a Young Child

Aroostook County Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested a Hodgdon man on charges of burning a 4-year-old child with hot water.

Shane Godfrin was indicted earlier this month by the Aroostook County Grand Jury on one count of Class C Assault and an arrest warrant was issued.

Godfrin was apprehended last Thursday, after he briefly attempted to flee into at a home in Orient, according to Chief Deputy Sheriff Darrell Crandall.  He was taken to the Aroostook County Jail where he later posted $1,000 cash bail.

The scalding incident allegedly occurred on March 23. The child was rushed to Houlton Regional Hospital with severe burns on the lower legs.

Sheriff’s Deputies were notified and opened a criminal investigation. Medical professionals with expertise in identifying the nature and cause of burns were also involved with the case, Crandall said.

Once the investigation was complete, the case was turned over to the District Attorneys’ Office, who presented it to the grand jury.  If convicted, Godfrin faces up to five years in prison.

His initial appearance in Aroostook County Superior Court in Houlton is scheduled for October 29. The offense is a Class C felony because the alleged victim is under six years old. Under Maine law, this is an aggravating factor.

If you are aware of child abuse, please contact the Maine Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-452-1999 or call the Sheriff’s Office directly at 1-800-432-7842.