BATH
The former Bath Bus Service driver who allegedly took illegal photos of students he was transporting on the bus has pleaded not guilty in West Bath District Court.
Bath police summonsed 50-year-old Timothy McGowan, formerly of Bath, on May 30 and charged him with violation of privacy, a Class D misdemeanor offense punishable by up to 364 days incarceration and a $2,000 fine.
After issuing the criminal summons, Bath police said investigators believe McGowan took the illegal photos of students while transporting them to and from school and special events. Bath Bus Service provides transportation for Regional School Unit 1. Images of six female students were identified by police and school staff from RSU 1 and West Bath School of elementary, middle and high school ages.
According to police, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit searched several of McGowan’s electronic devices and found the same images as those uploaded to the website.
Bath Police Lt. Robert Savary said last week he had no further details to release. He said he doesn’t believe photos of any more students have been identified.
McGowan is being represented by Handelman & Mason, out of Brunswick. Attorney Jonathan Handelman entered a not guilty plea on his client’s behalf on June 28.
Although McGowan was scheduled for arraignment in West Bath District Court on Tuesday, because he is only charged with a misdemeanor and because his attorneys already entered a not-guilty plea, McGowan didn’t have to appear in court.
James Mason of Handelman & Mason said Monday a judge denied a motion filed by Handelman to allow a plea by authorization, which would allow McGowan’s attorneys to enter a plea if one was worked out, without McGowan needing to be present.
According to the motion, McGowan is living in Texas, has no business or social ties to Maine, and attending court for plea “will subject Timothy to an expensive cross-country journey.”
Sagadahoc District Attorney Jonathan Liberman said his office objected to the motion as the state will be seeking jail time.
“We do want him showing up to his court dates,” Liberman said.
The court did schedule a dispositional conference Tuesday for Aug. 29 where McGowan, his counsel and the prosecutor will meet with a judge to discuss the case, the evidence and possibly a plea negotiation. If the parties can’t come to an agreement to resolve the case, it will go to trial.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less