MONMOUTH — A former Monmouth teacher again faces an accusation he possessed sexually explicit material of minors.
Christopher B. Brown, 55, of Monmouth, who retired after his earlier arrest in June, was arrested again Tuesday night. A grand jury in Kennebec County returned an indictment against him Oct. 5. The indictment was sealed until his arrest.
Brown posted $3,000 cash bail the night of his arrest.
Bail conditions ban him from contact with children younger than 16 and from possessing or using pornography and Internet devices. He also is subject to search.
An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but is an indication the grand jury believes there is sufficient evidence to proceed with formal charges and trial.
When Brown was first arrested in June, police claimed Brown had allegedly loaded two school laptops with photographs depicting nude children in sexually explicit positions.
Police had been called by an official of Monmouth Middle School, where Brown had been teaching for a dozen years, after students reported seeing odd photos focusing on girls’ heads that appeared to be taken of girls on the playground.
Later, Maine State Police Sgt. Glenn Lang said Brown took police to a spot in the woods behind his home where he had two school-issued laptops hidden in waterproof bags.
“That’s where we found sexually explicit material,” Lang said.
Lang said Brown admitted taking the pictures and morphing the heads on other bodies.
In late August, when the initial charge was dropped, District Attorney Evert Fowle said his office was waiting for more material, and that he expected the case to go to a grand jury, which would decide whether an indictment was warranted.
Brown is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment 8:30 a.m. Nov. 29.
His attorney, Michael Whipple, said Thursday that Brown will plead not guilty at that arraignment.
“Chris Brown was an incredible and averred teacher,” Whipple said. “He served his community and students for years. We were shocked by the state re-arresting him in light of the fact that he has been fully cooperative and represented by counsel.
“We offered to meet with the state and cooperate to assist in avoiding the costs and complications associated with their investigation or an arrest. No one ever called. We are still unclear as to the state’s evidence as they have yet to disclose any aspect of their investigation despite efforts to attempt to work together.”
A conviction on a charge of possession of sexually explicit materials carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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