Judge Sentences Portland Man Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting 8-Year-Old

PORTLAND, CT — A local man has been sentenced to serve five years in prison after a jury convicted him of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old.

Justin Rowen, 37, of Portland, was found guilty after a jury trial in September of fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

On Monday, Judge Laura F. Baldini sentenced Rowen in Superior Court in Middletown.

After Rowen serves five years in prison, he will be on probation for 10 years. If he violates conditions of probation, he would have to serve 10 years in prison instead of five.

Rowen, who was originally charged in April 2023, had entered a “not guilty” plea, denying wrongdoing.

“Evidence at trial showed that during the fall of 2022, the defendant engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with an 8-year-old child,” the state’s attorney’s office said, in announcing the sentence Thursday.