Bradley William Lemay. PHOTO FROM MAINE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY. (NOTE: DO NOT use without verifying identity. Check with Rick L.) Buy Photo

CAMDEN, Maine — A 44-year-old man is back in jail after allegedly raping a woman and then speeding away from police early Wednesday morning.

Bradley Lemay of Augusta is being held on $500,000 cash bail at Knox County Jail, where he was taken at 2:26 a.m. Wednesday. Lemay recently was released from Maine State Prison after 1989 convictions for kidnapping and gross sexual misconduct, for which he served 21 years of a 35-year jail sentence, according to Camden police.

According to police, a woman called 911 at about 1:30 a.m. after she said Lemay raped her in a Camden home. The victim said Lemay used a knife, police reported. The victim identified the rapist as “Brad,” according to a press release from the Camden Police Department.

After getting a description of Lemay’s car from the victim, police received another call that a car of the same description was on John Street. The caller said the driver pulled into the person’s John Street yard and turned around, heading west.

Officer Daniel Brown of the Rockport Police Department located the car and tried to pull it over, but it sped through Camden, Hope, Rockport and Rockland, police stated. Rockport police said the car reached speeds of 100 mph.

Rockland police officers laid spike mats across Route 1 at about 2 a.m. The mats deflated three of the tires on the car, which then came to a stop. Police arrested the driver, Lemay, at the scene and brought him to Knox County Jail.

According to Rockport Police Chief Mark Kelley, the incident was an example of good police cooperation, as Rockland, Rockport and Camden departments all worked to apprehend Lemay. Kelley said Lemay broke several traffic laws, including speeding 70 mph the wrong way down one-way Camden streets.

“He was not wanting to be captured because of having just been released in February for the same thing. He’s going back again for another long stint would be my guess,” Kelley said of Lemay’s motive.

Lemay was charged with Class A gross sexual assault, Class B burglary, Class C aggravated criminal trespass, Class C criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, Class D assault and Class C eluding a police officer.

Class A crimes are punishable by up to 30 years in jail and a $50,000 fine. Class B convictions can lead to up to a 10-year jail term and $20,000 fine. Sentencing guidelines are progressively lower for Class C and D crimes.

Lemay’s criminal record includes convictions for criminal trespass, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, gross sexual misconduct, kidnapping, burglary and assault.

Lemay has an arraignment scheduled at 1 p.m. Thursday at Knox County Superior Court.

The case remains under investigation.