BATH — Police summonsed a school bus driver June 1 for violating privacy after he allegedly posted online “upskirt” photos of students.

The charge against Bath Bus Service driver Timothy McGowan, 50, of Bath, followed a week-long investigation by the State Police Computer Crimes Unit and Bath police, according to a Police Department press release.

McGowan allegedly made the illegal photos of students while driving them to and from school and special events, police said.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigators notified Maine State Police May 23 of a tip claiming that a Maine bus driver “was posting ‘upskirt’ photographs of what were believed to be school-aged students on a foreign website,” police said. “Subpoena and email traces” led investigators to McGowan.

Images of six students of elementary, middle and high school age were identified by police and staff from Regional School Unit 1 and West Bath schools. Investigators interviewed McGowan and searched his electronic devices, which police said contained photos matching those uploaded to the website.

Police issued McGowan a summons May 30. He is due to appear in West Bath District Court July 17. School administrators notified parents of the students May 31.

Bath Bus Service, which has placed McGowan on leave, conducted all proper background checks on him before he was hired, and he had no prior criminal convictions, according to police.

All images have been removed from the website, police said. They declined to identify the site.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.