Ryan Morrill, 32, of North Monmouth, a former dance teacher at Midcoast Dance Studio in Newcastle and other area dance studios, has pleaded guilty to one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The pleading was finalized Aug. 21.

He was sentenced to three and a half years in the Department of Corrections, with all but 12 months suspended as part of the plea arrangement, and will also serve two years' probation.

Upon his release, Morrill must register as a sex offender for 25 years, have no contact with girls under the age of 16, and must obtain mental health and sexual offender treatment. When he was arrested in February, a press release from Lt. Michael Murphy of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said Morrill had been sexually involved with the victim for 10 months. Morrill is also forbidden from contact with the victim or her mother.

Morrill will serve his sentence at Maine Correctional Center in Windham.