LIVERMORE FALLS — A local man has been charged with gross sexual assault of a young child on April 29.

Kenneth Ward, 73, of 99 Leeds Road was arrested Tuesday night at his home, according to police.

A family member reported the assault of a boy under age 12, Police Chief Ernest Steward Jr. said Thursday.

A conviction on a sexual assault charge is punishable by a maximum 30 years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine.

Ward was taken to the Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn.

He remained there Thursday morning held on $5,000 cash bail, a corrections officer said.