Former Maine Gubernatorial Candidate Arrested for Probation Violation

Eliot Cutler, 79, arrested in South Portland for allegedly violating probation conditions for the third time in six months

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Eliot Cutler, a former Maine gubernatorial candidate, has been arrested by the Maine State Police Special Victim's Unit for allegedly violating the probation conditions of his 2023 conviction for possession of child sex abuse materials. This is the third time in the past six months that Cutler has been accused of violating his probation.

Why it matters

Cutler's repeated violations of his probation conditions raise concerns about the enforcement of sentencing and probation for individuals convicted of sex crimes, as well as the ability of the criminal justice system to effectively monitor and rehabilitate such offenders.

The details

According to the Department of Public Safety, police encountered Cutler at a hotel in South Portland on Monday and determined he was in violation of his probation conditions. Cutler was then taken into custody and transported to Cumberland County Jail, where he is being held on a probation hold. This latest arrest comes after Cutler was previously accused of violating his probation in September 2025 and again in December 2025 and January 2026 by allegedly accessing pornographic materials online.

  • Cutler was convicted of possession of child sex abuse materials in 2023.
  • In September 2025, Cutler was accused of violating his probation by visiting a website for a massage parlor in the San Francisco area.
  • In December 2025 and January 2026, Cutler was accused of violating his probation by looking up pornographic materials online from his home in Brooklin.
  • On February 10, 2026, Cutler was arrested by the Maine State Police Special Victim's Unit in South Portland for allegedly violating his probation conditions.

The players

Eliot Cutler

A 79-year-old former Maine gubernatorial candidate who was convicted in 2023 of possession of child sex abuse materials and is now facing repeated allegations of violating his probation conditions.

Shannon Moss

A spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety who provided information about Cutler's latest arrest.

Robert Granger

The Hancock County District Attorney who previously requested that Cutler not be granted bail after he allegedly violated his probation conditions.

Harold Stewart

A judge who imposed higher bail and more strict conditions on Cutler after he allegedly violated his probation in December 2025 and January 2026.

Bill Trotter

A BDN editor who contributed reporting to the story.

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What they’re saying

“Cutler was 'at the end of the runway' for being granted more bail if he again violated the conditions of his release.”

— Harold Stewart, Judge (Bangor Daily News)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to revoke Cutler's bail and probation at a hearing scheduled for next week.

The takeaway

Cutler's repeated violations of his probation conditions raise serious questions about the criminal justice system's ability to effectively monitor and rehabilitate sex offenders, as well as the need for stronger enforcement and accountability measures for those convicted of such crimes.