PORTLAND — Andrew Demers, a former Maine State Police chief accused of molesting a young relative, will not be allowed supervised visits with his grandchildren, Justice William Brodrick declared on Tuesday.

Brodrick, an active retired Cumberland County Superior Court justice, denied a motion by Demers to amend his bail conditions to allow him supervised visitation with children under the age of 16.

Walter McKee, the attorney representing Demers, told Brodrick he filed the motion to allow his client to see his grandchildren.

“He has grandchildren whose parents have made it abundantly clear that they are comfortable with him having supervised visitation with their children,” McKee said in court on Tuesday.

But Cumberland County District Attorney Stephanie Anderson objected, saying Demers is currently undergoing a psychological evaluation and prosecutors want to see the results of that review before considering additional contact with children.

“The victim in this case was a [family member] and the parents were thrilled with the relationship he had with their child until these allegations came to light,” Anderson told Brodrick. “What [Demers] is asking for is difficult and dangerous.”

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Brodrick sided with Anderson.

“I’d be more inclined to consider this motion if he hadn’t already been accused of molesting a [young family member],” the justice said. “The motion is denied.”

Demers, 74, of New Gloucester was arrested March 17 and initially charged with Class B unlawful sexual contact with a person younger than 12. He was released on $5,000 cash bail, with conditions including no contact with the alleged victim or any other child younger than 16 years old.

A Cumberland County grand jury in April indicted Demers on the more severe count of Class A gross sexual assault and Class B unlawful sexual contact, which prosecutors say occurred in February and March of this year.

Demers pleaded not guilty in April.

Demers served 26 years with the Maine State Police and held the position of chief from 1987 to 1993, when he retired.

In 2003, Demers, the most decorated officer in state police history, was named a “Legendary Trooper,” the Sun Journal reported at the time.

If convicted of gross sexual assault, Demers could face a sentence of 30 years in prison.


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