RUMFORD – A felony charge of unlawful sexual contact against a Bethel pet store owner was dropped by the Oxford County District Attorney’s office.

On March 30, three days before Brian S. Peterson, 38, of Bethel was to be arraigned in Rumford District Court, the court clerk received a memo from prosecutor Richard R. Beauchesne, stating that no complaint would be issued.

Insufficient evidence was cited as the reason for dropping the lone charge against Peterson.

Beauchesne could not be reached for comment, but a clerk at the DA’s office in Paris said Friday that there would be no comments forthcoming from the DA’s office on the matter.

Peterson, owner of Peterson’s Pets, Supplies and Novelties Pet Stop in Bethel, was arrested on Jan. 8 by then Bethel police Chief Darren M. Tripp, who was later fired on Feb. 12 by Town Manager Scott Cole.

When contacted late Friday afternoon, Peterson declined comment.
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