ROCKLAND – The following comprises recent court activity in Knox County, including a motion filed by the attorneys of the owner of a Rockland massage parlor to suppress evidence obtained during two search warrants and the upcoming court dates for 11 defendants issued summonses for allegedly engaging a prostitute at the business.

A Rockland man also remains in jail on $10,000 cash bail for assaulting a woman.  

Attorneys for owner of Rockland massage parlor arrested for sex trafficking file motion to dismiss evidence

The attorneys for a New York man who is the owner of the Asian Massage Parlor in Rockland and is suspected of sex trafficking filed a motion July 2 in Knox County Court to suppress all of the evidence seized during two separate search warrants conducted by Rockland Police.

Tian Tao, 54, was arrested Feb. 20 on a charge of sex trafficking on a warrant obtained by the Rockland Police Department. Rockland Police detectives, with the assistance of the Kennebec County Sheriff Office, Gardiner Police Department. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security arrested Tao in Gardiner.

The first search was conducted on Dec. 11 of a large commercial trash can located behind the business. The second search executed on Dec. 12 included people at the business and their personal vehicles. Police seized papers, papers, calendars, appointment books, condoms, and sexual lubricants, according to the court document.

The attorneys argue that the evidence was obtained as a result of illegal searches and it lacked probable cause. They also claim that the search warrants violated the privacy rights of suspects and were too broad.

A hearing on the motion to suppress has not yet been scheduled.

Future court dates set for the 11 Maine residents who were issued summonses for allegedly engaging a person for prostitution at Asian Massage in Rockland

Rockland Police released the names of names of the defendants who were issued summonses on Jan. 27. They first received information in late July 2024 from law enforcement in Lincoln County regarding their investigation into sexual acts that were being done in exchange for money at a local massage parlor in Waldoboro.  

Rockland Police learned that the establishment in question, Asian Massage, had since moved from Waldoboro to Rockland and was leasing space at 193 Park Street since May 2024.

The local defendants who were issued summonses made their initial appearances in Knox County Court in March. They all pleaded not guilty to the charge of engaging a person for prostitution.

The following court dates for dispositional conferences are scheduled on Sept. 4 for eight of the 11 defendants:

Mark Strong, 69, of Thomaston;

Richard Generazio, 64, of Owls Head;

Christopher Mitchell, 41, of Lincolnville;

Christopher Felicetti, 62, of Washington;

Randy Bouchard, 62, of South Thomaston;

Michael Graves, 65, of Rockport;

Joseph Cady, 50, of Palermo;

Neal Shepard, 71, of Cushing.

The court dates for the remaining three defendants are:

Bruce Liljegren, 78, of Thomaston, docket call on Sept. 1;

William Heiden, 39, of Rockland, docket call on Sept. 3;

Stanley Carlton, 65, of Owls Head, next future court date to be scheduled.

The dispositonal conference is where the district attorney’s office and defense meet with a judge or justice to determine if the case will be resolved by a plea agreement or go to trial. They will discuss the merits of the evidence, the defense, and any pretrial motions. Dispositional conferences are court hearings aimed at resolving cases without a trial.

The docket call is the last opportunity for the district attorney and defense to reach a potential plea agreement. If no acceptable resolution is reached at the docket call, then the case will progress to jury selection and jury trial. 

Judge sets bail at $10,000 cash for Rockland man accused of assaulting woman

A Rockland man with a history of convictions for assaults and criminal trespass in Knox County Court remains in jail on $10,000 cash bail.

Steven Clarke, 59, was arrested July 2 by Rockland Police after they had been trying to located him since June 29, when it was first reported that he was involved in assaulting a woman.

Clarke was charged by police with domestic violence assault and domestic violence criminal threatening.

He made his initial appearance in Knox County Court July 7. The state had requested $5,000 cash bail but Judge Sarah Gilbert  increased the amount to $10,000 cash.

Clarke will be required to wear a GPA monitor after he is released from jail.

According to the affidavit filed in court by Rockland Police, the victim reported that Clarke followed her was she was walking home after dropping some items off at his residence. Clarke allegedly became upset when she said that he could not come back to her apartment. The woman told police that he punched and kicked her and then slammed her head on the pavement.

Police said that Clarke fled the scene when he heard a cruiser approaching.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on Sept. 11 for a dispositional conference.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com