BIDDEFORD — The former owner of Homer’s Sports Bar was indicted earlier this month by a York County Superior Court grand jury with one count each of unlawful sexual touching and tampering with a victim and two counts of assault. An indictment is not a finding of guilt, but means enough evidence exist to move forward with prosecution.

The charges against Thomas L. Huot, 31, of Saco, involve incidents that took place on or about March 28, according to the indictment. The charges all relate to actions by Huot against one of his employees at the time the events occurred.The Journal Tribune has a policy against naming alleged victims of sex crimes.

The charge of tampering with a victim is a Class B felony. Under this charge, according to the indictment, Huot believed an official proceeding or criminal investigation was to take place, and he tried to stop the victim from providing information to police.

The charges of unlawful sexual touching and two charges of assault are all Class D misdemeanors.

Huot’s attorney, Edmund Folsum with The Boulos Law Firm in Saco, said his client intends to plead not guilty to all charges.

According to Biddeford Police, on March 29 at approximately 1 a.m., Biddeford Dispatch received a telephone complaint of a disturbance outside Homers Sports Bar on Water Street. When officers arrived they spoke with several men who were very irate because of a situation that they had allegedly witnessed in the bar. According to police, the men saw Huot grope, touch and sexually fondle a 22-year-old female employee.

When interviewed by officers, the employee confirmed what the witnesses told the police, and she said she was very upset.

Under the ownership of Huot, there were numerous police calls to Homers. This led to the unusual step in April when the Biddeford City Council denied the renewal of his liquor license.

The case was under appeal when Huot sold the bar to a new owner earlier this year.

Police Chief Roger Beaupre said he considered denying Huot’s license last year because more than 30 calls were made to the Biddeford Police Department involving customers at the bar. Since there was only a minimal decrease in the number of calls over the past year, said Beaupre, he decided to recommend against renewing the license.

In addition to the charges against Huot, according to Biddeford Police, there are seven administrative notices against him relating to liquor violations; two counts for the licensee showing the effects of liquor consumption and five counts of allowing an illegal act on the premises.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.