Staff Writer

A former town of Scarborough employee, William S. Southworth of Standish, has been charged with alleged unlawful sexual contact with a minor, a felony. Southworth, 45, was arrested March 6 at the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office by Detective John Fournier. 

A Cumberland County Jail records clerk confirmed the arrest and said Southworth was granted release March 7 on $1,000 cash or $10,000 single surety bail. Conditions of his release state he is to have no contact, direct or indirect, with a specific minor, or any other children under the age of 16 years old. A May court date has been set. 

Southworth has no prior arrest record.

Town Manager Ron Owens said Southworth worked as the operations manager for the public works department and was employed by the town for about three years. Owens said the town was made aware of the arrest the day after it took place and town officials met with Southworth, who tendered his resignation. 

“He (Southworth) didn’t tell us (of his arrest), but we found out quickly, within a day,” Owens said. “When we became aware of it, we dealt with it and he decided to resign.”

Owens declined to speculate on town policy for employees charged with a crime due to Southworth’s resignation. There is currently no standard written course of action in the case of an employee arrest in the personnel policy. Owens noted there is a town policy prohibiting anyone who has been convicted of a crime from working for the town.  

He declined to comment on the amount of contact with children Southworth may have had as a town employee and said there are no plans to launch an internal investigation.

“I don’t have any reason to believe this was anything outside the family,” Owens said. “It’s a tragic situation.” 

Owens said the town is actively looking for a replacement for Southworth’s public works position, but has not hired anyone.

Contact Stephanie Grinnell by calling 282-4337 ext. 213 or email news@scarboroughleader.com.