CAMDEN, Maine — The town’s economic development director is accused of pretending to be Deb Neuman, the state’s deputy commissioner of economic development, and sending emails on her behalf, according to court documents.
Brian Hodges is being investigated by state police after they found emails to state officials that were supposedly from Neuman — who now holds Hodges’ old job.
The emails say things such as, “George is a stud and kinky!!! Wooooo hooooooooooooooooooo” which may refer to either Neuman’s boss, George Gervais, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, or to George Hale, occasional co-host on Neuman’s “Back to Business Radio Show,” which airs Sundays on stations in Maine and New Hampshire.
Hodges neither denied nor affirmed the accusations. When asked whether he was guilty Tuesday, he replied, “I don’t have any information I can give.”
Neuman denied writing the emails. Gervais suspected Hodges was behind the messages and called police.
The Maine Attorney General’s Office then issued subpoenas to Google, Time Warner and Midcoast Internet Solutions to figure out what IP addresses were linked to the account. In the end, they found two IP addresses — one from the Camden town office and the other from Hodges’ domestic partner’s home, according to court documents.
Police were granted a search warrant to take Hodges’ work computer, records, data and more on Dec. 20.
Among the emails being investigated and sent from backtobusinessradio@gmail.com, according to the search warrant application, were:
“Advise to you, stop pushing the envelope. Governor will get you something. If the IT thing gets any more rumblings, the other state employees will start asking questions. We’re already on thin ice. You’re making it worse” and “FYI, spoke with Brian. He’s a go but has concerns about Governor’s reputation. I can’t say I blame him!” The emails were sent in September and October.
Maine State Police Detective David Armstrong wrote in an affidavit filed in Rockland District Court that Neuman said the emails “caused some problems that had to be explained to Governor Paul LePage.”
Hodges is being investigated for the crime of impersonating a public servant, a Class E crime with a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
According to Hodges, he will remain active in his Camden job through the investigation. The town manager did not return press calls Tuesday.
The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development could not comment on an ongoing investigation, according to Doug Ray, spokesman for the department.
How is he going to do his job if they took his “computer,records,data and more”.
“George is a stud and kinky!!! Wooooo hooooooooooooooooooo” …weird.
“The emails say things such as, “George is a stud and kinky!!! Wooooo hooooooooooooooooooo” which may refer to Neuman’s boss, George Gervais, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.””
Or it may refer to her sometime radio partner George Hale, just saying.
Thanks for the tip.
In my humble estimation, and no offense, George, but when I look at you, Stud Muffin is not what comes to mind.
As I am not “George” anyone, no offense taken.
Hi Ric Tyler, Just saying
Not a “Rick” either.
Nothing is proven as yet. I wonder though about that light sentence for impersonation – seems quite light given that use of public money is usually involved. Interesting. I hope the coverage is complete.
It sounds like he should have ben charged with impersonating a public servant well before this episode.
That comment was dripping with wit, bravo. I’ll be having a Cognac in you’re honor tonight.
Napolean, what year?
XO actually, Its Remy so I would assume around 30 years
Well said my friend!
Heather Steeves at the Bangor Daily News… you screwed up the headline.
The BDN has a long-standing tradition of never saying anything bad about Camden. Therefore, the headline should have read “Rockport neighboring community town employee accused of impersonating state official.” When Camden Hills Regional High School has a negative story, the headline almost always refers to Rockport high school….
Heather, didn’t you get the memo?
So this guy was impersonating a woman ??
His choice of Sexual Identity is his personal affair.
He should sue the town for ” Gender Identity Discrimination ” if
they pursue this indiscretion.
He should not be discriminated against for his sexual preferences.
Please – you are being facetious, are you not? You did read and understand the report?
What’s this – the sexual preference card?
Good thing he didn’t try to impersonate Charlie Tuna.
He wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.
you deserve a drum roll for that one
WHOOPWHOOPWHOOP!
WADDAYOU A WISEGUY?
Not being a wise guy. I thought it was funny. Worth remembering.
Sorry for not using “quotes”.
I was paraphrasing the Stooges (some what).
What do his “sexual preferences”, which are not even mentioned in the article, have to do with anything?
George Gervais is the commissioner of the maine dept. of economic and community devlopment? REALLY? what a joke
Hmmmm……Guess I’ll file this one in the “strange story” file.
Hodges is a former Baldacci appointee.
So what…. what’s the point? Does that mean he couldn’t do the job?
Well, You said it and that is the point.
The ol’ Hack-a-rama has ended.
yup
I AM GEORGE, and I approved this massage.
Why hasn’t Hodges been placed on administrative leave until the investigation is completed?
Maybe because it’s Camden, the town where a Dunkin Donuts is not permitted, there are no takers for “free” town property, and there is a select board instead of a board of selectmen.
And more people with hyphenated names than you can count.
Sorry Narran.
George and Paul are lovers?
What was he doing? Removing a labor mural?? Preventing people from voting??? Stealing from MaineCare????
Seriously though…what a weirdo…
Dear blinded by hate or uncledirinky, Do some research on the above.. First the labor Mural you speak of is a religous symbol for the socialist party… Second it was a fraud prevention measure on the voting issue not voter prevention measure, and third issue on with a little research you would find the the State used federal funds allocated for other programs to fund Mainecare… So it’s very possible that the feds will require the State to pay back over 30 million of the money spent on the program… So in layman terms the Baldacci admin had used a credit card to pay for the program and now The Lepage Admin has to make the Payments…
the mural a religous symbol? Wow you have some odd views. Funny, no one know about it until he took it down. I have yet to talk to a person that has been in that depeartment of labor building. the probably overtime spent on a weekend to remove and hide it was a waste of money, and a very stupid thing to do.
Now, wait a minute…..let’s get this straight. Gervais received relatively harmless, but yet erroneous emails; and SOMEHOW, the attorney general gets involved and issues subpeonas? But yet this same Attorney General can’t investigate as to whether or not a former member of the Brewer Housing Authority broke the law?
So, if you and I have a problem, we should go to …….who?
I will not crawl to LePage. He’s the one that the DECD director ultimately went to. We apparently have all of this fraud and benefit theft, and the AG is busy, looking into ….this? And whom do you think Gervais would approach first?, his boss or the Attorney General? Guess who his boss is? This is a waste of the taxpayers money. Guess who is going to have to pick up the legal tab.
That’s absurd. Grow up, concentrate on what’s important. A simple warning or letter would have sufficed.
Glad you could join the discussion Mr. Hodges!
Maybe you should ask Ms. Neuman whether she thinks someone impersonating her in this manner is only worthy of a “simple warning or letter.”
More of your friends from the failed Baldacci era, Rusty?
Another Baldacci winner…
Brian Hodges Named Deputy Commissioner of DECDAUGUSTA – Thaxter Trafton, commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has appointed Brian Hodges as Deputy Commissioner of DECD. Hodges has worked in Maine state government for 18 years. Most recently, Brian was director of tax incentive programs for DECD since May of 2008. Prior to that, he was the business development specialist for the Central Region Kennebec, Somerset and Franklin Counties. Hodges has also worked with the Department of Labor and Maine Revenue Services. “Brian’s diverse experience in our state government provides him with a broad knowledge base well-suited to his role as Deputy Commissioner,” stated Thaxter Trafton, DECD Commissioner. “He understands how businesses work in Maine and, as testimony to this, he was awarded the William Twarog Manager of the Year Award in 2009, the highest award achieved in state government.” Hodges was the 2008 Ambassador for Maine on a Rotary International trip to Venezuela as part of a cultural and professional group study exchange. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Community Little Theater in Lewiston/Auburn. Hodges also formerly served on the Board of Directors for the Mid-Maine United Way. A graduate of the University of Maine – Orono, Hodges will complete his Master’s of Business Administration from Thomas College in 2010.
Sounds like a disgruntled hack, still reeling from the Republican sweep. True colors Shine!
Sounds like that twit that prances around downtown Camden?
He must have learned how to do stuff like this on his field trip to Venezuala.
Well done, comrade!!
You mean the Venezuela that with Citgo and Joe Kennedy gives out 100 gallons of oil to freezing New Englanders and has done so for years?They’d even give it to people like you that hate this country and spit in the face of decent people like Joe Kennedy.R’s have never helped out a single poor person in their lives.They would just step over a frozen body to get into their chauffeur driven limo.
Cold out there in your tent city?
As a resident of Camden I think we should find a new economic development director, if one is really needed, as all this one wants to do is collect a fat paycheck and play with his computer.
He has been working diligently to give away the old Tannery land to attract business to Camden according to a previous article. What a waste of $65,000.00
Hodges, a Baldacci hire, allegedly sent two emails impersonating and hoping to embarrass a LePage hire. The latter is his replacement, Deputy Commissioner Deb Neuman. Either Hodges or his partner sent one email, because it “originated from their home” (duh #1). A second email “originated from the Camden Town Office” (duh #2) where Hodges now works. Talk about throwing your career out the window. Camden keeping him on would be duh #3.
Is he one of the LePage haters tying themselves into pretzel knots over the man??
Kind of sad, really. Kind of sad.
LOL
The rabbit hole Baldacci left behind most like will never be filled…
He has a domestic partner? What in the hell is that? I just can not keep up with the political correctness thing.
A domestic partner is someone you live with whom you are not legally married to.
My wife was my domestic partner before we got married. There’s nothing weird or “PC” about it.
It’s more than that, allowed by statute in Maine, and gives the domestic partners certain legal protections that they wouldn’t otherwise have. I would describe the relationship as midway between shacking up and being married.
Thanks for the definition. I guess I am just too damned old! Lol.
——————————
Those things never last, at least that is what some people said to my wife and I thirty years ago!
lol…
Did ther commissioner of the Turnpike Authority get any jail time for what he did or was swept under the carpet. But this guy is going to get the shaft. Over a email that they can’t prove he wrote. But if he belonged to the good old boy’s club nothing would be said. What a joke.
Sounds like he prefers the shaft
little bear…techonology will be able to prove or disprove if he wrote them….
Thats true
I suspect that the MTA story hasn’t been completely written as of yet.
Only in Maine!!!!!
I have personally witness bitterness from other former state hacks. I have heard nothing but constant put downs of anyone in their particular former position. Many of theses hacks have been unable to find meaningful employment so their goal is either run for political office (because they don’t know what else to do)or wallow away in self pity.
Decades of tyranny here in Maine would lead these idiots to be exactly as you portray them. They had theri way for toolong of a time and now they are so bitter becasue at last they are where they belong almost..Jail for some would be too good.
You are so right. The look on their faces when the GOP took both the house and senate in Maine was priceless. They never saw it coming. Paul LePage squeaked in as gov and that was the icing on the cake.
Matt Dunlap putting up a challenge to Olympia Snowe for the U.S. Senate is the biggest joke of all. He was a terrible secretary of state; waiting times at RMVs doubled. He was comtemptuous of people who objected when Niall Clark, the illegal alien Irishman who held up a bank in Bangor with a loaded weapon, was found to have a Maine driver’s licence, and with it had been able to acquire the weapon and rent a car. Snowe should be able to clean his clock with all this garbage, if he survives the primary.
The fact that he’s even considering running confirms what everyone else is saying on this board; these idiots were in power for so long they don’t know what to do with themselves now that they’re out in the cold (re: the private sector). Once a useless hack, always a useless hack.
Did Janet Mills find anything wrong with that???
typical loser attitude…
David and Jay do inpersonating all the time of icons in Washington and the nation watches and laughs. Its sounds like someone a state level that is nobody trying to be somebody.
Business as usual by Camden Town officials. The execs of the town have been acting with impunity and hubris for years. The only surprise is that someone was actually somewhat successful in nailing them with a warrant and subpoenas. Usually the DA is right in their back pocket. Kudos.
After taking a quick glance at Mr. Hodge’s Facebook profile, my day is made….
http://imgur.com/UfLOR
“Save the gutter mouth for behind closed doors and let’s raise the bar back to where it should be.”
Sounds like he took his own advice….
“George is a stud and kinky!!! Wooooo hooooooooooooooooooo” which may
refer to either Neuman’s boss, George Gervais,…or to George Hale,
occasional co-host on Neuman’s “Back to Business Radio Show,”…”
I don’t know about you, but when I hear “stud” I immediately think “George Hale”.
Me too!
I love it when they start eating each other, Save’s Time…
Sounds like the guy is a bit immature. My concern is that there are people being cut from needed services in this state because of budget cuts but we will need to spend how much to deal with something a child might do…even if it was a naughty child. No wonder our state is in trouble. We hire kids to do an adults job then we have to waste our tax dollars to put him in a time out. Lose, Lose situation….
All evidence of when you are no longer allowed at the pig trough, some piggy’s get mad and act out about it!
Political affiliation not required……………….
Brian Hodges, Please stay out of the Sandbox!!!!
Deb is on WVOM weekly……she and George do “flirt” back and forth!!!!
Who listens to that crap??? When I use to listen to them they never addressed any issues head on in fear of offending a BFF.. Tabloid Radio… And I am a repub. I now listen to the Pulse a couple of clicks down or aroostock county watchman Via internet…
Whatever works for you. The Pulse has its following as does WVOM.
wvom deceivers, if you like talking about nothing…
38 minutes of ads per hour is not entertainment,
Aroostook, it’s Aroostook Watchmen (plural), small local transmitters and at http://www.talkshoe.com at 8:00am weekdays
LePage should be busted for impersonating a public servant. Even though it’s a poor impersonation.
nice.