Damariscotta is a city of approximately 2,200 residents in mid-coastal Maine.  The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office charged eight people with prostitution-related crimes after an “extensive” investigation that began with a complaint received by the Damariscotta Police Department in April 2017 and involved ads placed on Craigslist and Backpage. In July 2017, seven men were  arrested and charged for attempting to purchase sex, and their identities were included in news reports.  All charges in the investigation were class E misdemeanors, with a maximum penalty of six months in jail. The Damariscotta, Milbridge, and South Portland police departments, as well as the Everett, Mass. department, assisted in the investigation.