BIDDEFORD — A Biddeford man accused of sexually assaulting a woman for years, beginning when the victim was a minor, has been indicted on 29 counts of gross sexual assault.

Ralph Miller, 45, of Biddeford was indicted by a York County grand jury on Thursday for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman over a long time period, beginning when she was 15 years old.

Miller, of Guinea Road, was arrested in March at his place of employment in York by Biddeford police detectives, in conjunction with the city’s Street Crimes Unit and the Maine Violent Crimes Task Force.

Biddeford Police Chief Roger Beaupre said at the time that police detectives had been investigating  the case against Miller for more than a month prior to his arrest.

According to a police affidavit, the alleged assaults occurred between 2009 and 2011. The woman, who is now an adult, told police that she had told friends and a schoolteacher about the alleged assaults when she was younger, but was afraid to pursue additional action against Miller.

In March, Miller was taken to York County Jail and held in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.

Because of the statute of limitations pertaining to sexual assault cases, authorities were only able to charge Miller with Class B felonies, which carry a maximum prison term of 10 years.

A York County Superior Court clerk said Friday that a formal arraignment date for Miller has not yet been set.

Miller was also indicted on one count of Class D incest stemming from a 2003 case. Attempts to reach Miller’s attorney, William Ashe, by press time were unsuccessful.

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.