Maine State Police arrested Alan Burgess, 62, on Wednesday, on allegation of possession of hundreds of various forms of child pornography. Burgess has taught 7th and 8th grade at Boothbay Middle School for 38 years, and lives in the Trevett section of town.
Burgess’s arrest is part of a nationwide crackdown on child pornography, with police agencies sharing information. Maine’s Computer Crimes Unit submitted Burgess’s IP address to the state police, and upon seizure, Sgt. Glenn Lang says his computer contained hundreds of videos and still images of child porn.
Police say there’s no evidence any of the students or the school were involved in the pornography.
Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District Superintendent Eileen King said she was informed of the allegations on Wednesday.
In a prepared statement, King said she “is deeply disturbed by the allegations. We pride ourselves in providing a safe and secure environment for our students and we’ll continue to make sure that happens.”
Burgess is free on $1500 bail from Two Bridges Jail in Wiscasset, has been placed on paid leave, and is scheduled for his first appearance in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tues., Nov. 24 at 8:30 a.m.
