Brown facing second charge
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
A former teacher at Central Aroostook High School in Mars Hill is facing a second charge after he violated his condition of release last week when he allegedly contacted the victim he was accused last fall of having questionable contact with.
Alan J. Brown, 54, of Mapleton, had worked at CAHS teaching geography, civics, psychology and U.S. history until last September when he was charged with unlawful sexual touching of a student. He’d been released on bail, with conditions including refraining from contacting the victim, who is younger than 18 or the victim’s family. Det. Sgt. John Cote is investigating for the Maine State Police but could not specify whether the victim was a male or female.
The latest charge was made against Brown on Wednesday when authorities arrested him for allegedly trying to contact the victim, which is a violation of his conditions of release. Officials did not specify how contact was made, whether in person or via electronic device such as a phone or computer.
Brown appeared in Aroostook County Superior Court in Houlton on Friday for arraignment. Bail was set at $500 cash and conditions of his release include no contact with the victim.
“Brown was arrested on Wednesday for a bail violation – having contact with the victim. He was arraigned in custody Friday. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment,” said District Attorney Todd Collins. “He was bailed on $500 cash-only bond, a Maine Pretrial Services Contract and was to have no contact with the victim.”
According to the D.A.’s Office, the unidentified victim is referred to as “Child A” in court documents and is described simply as “a student enrolled in a private or public elementary, secondary or special education school, facility or institution,” and that the suspect “is a teacher, employee or other official having instructional, supervisory or disciplinary authority over the student.”
According to Deputy D.A. Carrie Linthicum, the incident reportedly occurred on or around Sept. 7, 2010. Brown was subsequently charged around Sept. 24 or 25.
The charge of unlawful sexual touching is a Class D crime that carries a sentence of up to 364 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.
“Trial has been set for Jan. 28 at Presque Isle District Court unless the case is transferred for jury trial,” said Collins.
