A Jaffrey man who was indicted last year for allegedly sexually assaulting a student while a teacher at Mascenic Regional High School has been charged again after allegedly groping an employee of a local restaurant.

Brandon Kear, 33, of Jaffrey, has been charged with one count of sexual assault, according to police records.

According to a police affidavit filed with the Jaffrey Circuit Court by Jaffrey Police Det. Jeremy LeBlanc, on Sept. 4, police received a report from an alleged victim of sexual assault. The woman reported that on Sept. 3, at the Dublin Road Taproom, a man identified as Kear had followed her into the men’s bathroom as she was changing the trash bag and allegedly placed a hand on her breast and a hand on her hip. He then allegedly pushed her further into the bathroom and said something to the effect of “Don’t clean the bathroom now, people might get the wrong impression,” or “People will get suspicious.”

Kear was an employee of the Dublin Taproom, but at the time of the alleged assault, was not working and was attending the restaurant as a customer, according to police.

Police reviewed security footage on Sept. 12, according to the affidavit, and verified Kear entering the bathroom with his hands up, while the woman can be seen in the threshold. In the video, Kear allegedly appears to push into her, and his hands can be seen, with his left in a cupped position and right in a bladed position with palm facing inward.

Police interviewed Kear on Sept. 18 by phone, and he declined to comment, other than to refer police to his attorney. Police spoke with Kear’s attorney, and it was determined Kear would not be providing a statement to police about the matter.

Kear was arrested Sept. 19 and charged with one count of sexual assault with sexual contact, and was originally scheduled for a court date at the 8th Circuit Court for arraignment on Oct. 17. Due to inability of counsel availability, Kear requested the court date to be continued, which has been granted. Kear was released on personal recognizance, with conditions including that he remain at least 300 feet away from his alleged victim, or otherwise directly or indirectly contact her, that he refrain from any use of alcohol or narcotics, and that he be of good behavior. He is also banned from the Dublin Taproom under his release conditions.

Kear was indicted in 2023 by a Hillsborough County grand jury for allegedly sexually assaulting a student while a teacher and boys’ basketball coach at Mascenic Regional High School. Kear allegedly engaged with sexual acts with a student multiple times between April 2020 and June of 2021, in at least four separate incidents, including one of which took place in the school.

That case remains pending in the Merrimack Superior Court, with a trial management conference scheduled for March 7, 2025.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.