Finance board member charged with sexual assault

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Joseph Dowdell

BEACON FALLS — A member of the Board of Finance was charged Monday with multiple counts of sexual assault.

Joseph Dowdell, 59, of 32 Wolfe Ave., turned himself in at the Connecticut State Police Troop I barracks in Bethany on an arrest warrant shortly after 12 p.m., according to a press release.  He was charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault, fourth-degree sexual assault, illegal sexual contact with a victim under the age of 13, and multiple counts of risk of injury to a minor, according to the release.

Dowdell, who is secretary of the finance board, is accused of assaulting a 12-year-old victim, according to the release.

The warrant, which was authorized by the superior court in Milford, was sealed by the court. No further information was released.

Dowdell’s bond was set at $200,000. He is scheduled to appear in Derby Superior Court on Tuesday.