FARMINGTON – A convicted sex offender from Oakland faces new charges for sexually touching two teenage girls and their grandmother in Chesterville over the weekend, allegedly under the guise of giving massages.

Christopher Cates, 32, was released from prison on a Kennebec County conviction of unlawful sexual contact five months ago and was living at 352 Belgrade Road in Oakland. The new charges also are for unlawful sexual contact, a felony, and misdemeanor unlawful sexual touching.

In Cates’ initial court appearance Monday, Franklin County District Court Judge Michaela Murphy set bail at $5,000 cash or $50,000 worth of real estate. Cates' criminal history goes back to 1996, according to his record.