A high school band director in Butler County was charged Monday with watching and videotaping drill team members getting undressed to try on uniforms. Gerald F. Maxwell III, 43, was charged with endangering the welfare of children and invasion of privacy for the incidents that state police believe have been taking place since September in the music wing of Slippery Rock High School. An affidavit of probable cause filed with District Justice Clifford Woessner in Slippery Rock states that Maxwell has admitted to videotaping one girl and watching three others. He was suspended from his duties Friday when administrators became aware of the allegations, school Superintendent Lee Beaton said. Maxwell, of New Castle, Lawrence County, has been a music teacher at the middle and high school for about 20 years, Beaton said. "You have to understand that some of these kids have known him for seven years and felt close to him, so they feel a sense of hurt. They are shocked and disturbed," said Trooper David W. Bayer, who is investigating the case. "Mr. Maxwell was well-known and well-liked by students and faculty members alike," Bayer said. Bayer filed the charges yesterday with Woessner, and the trooper said he expects Maxwell to surrender when the district justice issues the warrant. According to the affidavit: Maxwell asked several members of the drill team to try on new Rockenette uniforms and to change in a small room used for storing sheet music and other band supplies. He asked the girls to get completely undressed before putting on the uniforms, saying he needed to verify that the clothing was not see-through and to make sure that no portion of their bodies would be exposed during the drill routines. At least one girl complied with his request. A 17-year-old girl said she was changing on Oct. 26 when she saw two hands holding a video camera within a section of the ceiling that had a broken tile. She began to scream, quickly dressed and ran out to find Maxwell and tell him what had happened. Maxwell tried to calm her, joking with her. The girl's mother contacted the school principal Thursday and state police were called. Troopers found a broken ceiling tile directly above where the girls were changing, making it possible for someone in the adjacent room to watch. Maxwell agreed to talk with troopers and eventually acknowledged taping one girl and watching three others. Bayer said several other drill team members have called to express fears that they, too, had been watched. He said he is investigating to determine if additional charges are warranted. Beaton said she could not comment further because it is a personnel matter. She referred all questions to state police. Several school board members also said they could not comment. Maxwell could not be reached for comment.

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