Former Oak Bluffs fire chief John Rose is denying the allegation from a recent lawsuit that he placed a hidden camera in the bedroom of a teenage girl.
Mr. Rose made the denial in a court filing on Oct. 29 after the family of the girl sued him in Dukes County Superior Court in August. The family claimed that he put the camera in the girl’s room, and the incident caused her anxiety, humiliation and fear for her loss of safety and privacy.
“Mr. Rose denies that he placed, operated, or maintained any camera or recording device in the bedroom,” his lawyer wrote in their nine-page response to the lawsuit.
The allegations come after prosecutors brought a criminal case against the former fire chief in January 2024. At the time, prosecutors claimed that Mr. Rose had filmed the woman he was dating during sex without her knowledge or consent, and he was charged with photographing a partially nude person.
The Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office later added two counts of attempting to commit a crime in connection with the alleged hidden camera. This spring, Mr. Rose admitted to sufficient facts for a guilty finding for the two counts of attempting to commit a crime, and was given 14 months probation.
The admission is not the same as a guilty finding, and his case will be dismissed if he completes probation without any issues. The other charge was dismissed.
At the time, the district attorney’s office voiced concerns about the strength of the evidence to move forward with a trial.
“Upon further review of the evidence, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with prosecution on the dismissed charges,” district attorney spokesperson Danielle Whitney said at the time.
The civil lawsuit from the teenager’s family claimed emotional distress and asked for $1 million in damages.
They claimed that the daughter brought the device to her mother and Mr. Rose, who had been in a relationship. They said that Mr. Rose claimed he didn’t know what the device was, and took it to examine it.
The family also contended that Mr. Rose removed the memory card, and attempted to delay the mother turning the device over to police so he could speak with his attorney first.
In his response to the lawsuit, Mr. Rose’s attorney wrote the family’s claims were caused by “acts or omissions of person for whose conduct Mr. Rose is not responsible…”
Both parties are calling for a jury trial. The family’s attorney told the Gazette Monday that Mr. Rose’s response allows the process to move forward.
“Now that Mr. Rose has answered and denied the claim, we will proceed with the usual discovery process,” said attorney Bruce Bierhans.