Towson’s former head diving coach Maureen Mead has been charged with three counts in connection with the video recording device found in the women’s swimming and diving locker room a month ago.
Members of the Towson University administration have been notified that Maureen Mead was indicted by a grand jury today, November 23rd, on three charges in connection with an investigation regarding a cell phone found in the restricted access area of the Women’s Swimming and Diving Team locker room. The charges against Mead include: Interception of Communication, Peeping Tom, and Altering Physical Evidence in a Criminal Proceeding.
The investigation continues regarding other members of the coaching staff, and we will provide more information as it becomes available. The well-being of our student-athletes remains and will continue to be our top priority.
The Interception of Communication is a felony charge, while Peeping Tom and Altering Physical Evidence in a Criminal Proceeding are listed as misdemeanors in the charges.
More than a month ago, news broke that a cell phone was found recording in the women’s swimming and diving locker room.
After nearly a month of with almost no information being given to the team, members of the squad made it public via Swimming World that most of the team planned on boycotting its meet against Pittsburgh in a demand for more information as well as for an interim coach to be named.
Just a day later, Towson conceded to the demand for a new coach as first-year assistant coach Jake Shrum was named the acting head coach, while Tim Perkins was named acting diving coach. Head coach Pat Mead, his wife Maureen and assistant coach Adrienne Phillips were all put on administrative leave.
I always thought I would see Maureen on “Snapped”, from all those years living with Pat, but I sure never expected this.
https://www.rosen.com/divorce/divorcearticles/electronic-communications-privacy-act/ Here is a pretty good article that explains what interception of communication is.
I’m having a tough time believing that Mo was behind all of this. I have always known her to be an outstanding mom and coach, and my gut says that she is taking the brunt of the backlash to protect her family. Sad to watch this play out, I hope the kids will be ok.
I totally agree. Maureen is a wonderful person, mother, daughter, friend. There is definitely more to the story.
I completely agree! Maureen is one of the greatest people I know. She is an amazing mother, coach and friend. I am shocked to learn this and am hoping that this is a terrible mistake.
How would taking the brunt of the backlash protect her family? What backlash? The backlash that was caused by planting a phone in a locker room which nobody in this day and age could possibly think is ok?
Yes, it was a terrible mistake, and unfortunately for everyone, one that won’t be easily erased or dismissed, as have some of this misguided woman’s actions in the past.
Backlash, as in legal proceedings and the destruction of Maureen’s reputation and credibility. I think it protects her family in many ways… It keeps Pat mostly out of it, most likely with the hope that he can still get another job one day since he has been the primary breadwinner in the family and they have four children to provide for. The punishment is likely to be lighter on Mo because it is easier to see/prove that this was done to listen in on the team vs. for sexual “peeping tom” reasons since she is a woman/wife/mother. Also, if Pat were to own up to his part in this particular incident, I believe that it would open him up to many more allegations from past swimmers that are far worse than the current situation at hand with much bigger consequences.
Basically, with Mo taking the fall, the repercussions will be much lighter and it will be easier for the family to move forward from this.
This truly upsets me on all ends. My heart goes to their children.
I think there is more to the story. I am 110 % positive she wasn’t taping swimmers to see anything,just to hear something. I bet there are some crazy kids and parents on the team.
Really? That is where you are going to go now? Call the kids and their parent’s crazy in order to justify any of this? Seems awfully unfair to the girls who have a right to free speech and privacy in a locker room. Seems to me the only one that is paranoid in this situation is the one who felt the need to tape these swimmers.
Nice-blame the victims!
I agree with mom. This was not done to Record any images. Pat and MO are amazing coaches and people. Any one who has said anything bad about Pat is truly upset bc he pushed you or cut you or you just we not good enfough for him to care about you. Stop reliving your bad experience. Let the truth come out and it will. Freedom of speech in a lockerroom, well maybe if you did a better job parenting your child to not speak bad about someone who is there coach and to respect them things would be differnt. Again these coaches have put there hearts into this program for years. Respect that, and respect them. Good luck to the team on your season you guys can and will get past this.
Wow – “Agree with Mom” you are really going to go there? Sounds to me like you may have more of a personal interest in defending this situation vs actually looking at the facts. I too agree that the recording was probably intended to hear what the swimmers were saying and not to capture any images but that does not excuse the fact that she committed a felony. After so many previous swimmers and parents have come out talking about the abuse they have experienced over the past 10 years, I am sure there will be a lot more that will come out before this is done. And as far as being a ‘great coach’ is concerned, I wouldn’t say a ‘great coach’ would be so worried about what her swimmers were saying that they would commit a felony in order to find out what was going on vs just talking to them – and remember every swimmer on that team was hand picked by the coaching staff, so if it’s just 10 years of a bad group of swimmers (which I don’t believe), that really doesn’t support what a ‘great coach’ is either
Where did you get the idea that anyone was speaking bad about their coaches? How do you know that the team parents don’t do a fantastic job parenting their children-they raised young adults smart enough for a good college and disciplined enough to be a student athlete!
I agree
Knowing the Mead’s, I do not believe that phone was placed their to record images but to hear what was being said in the locker room. It was an unfortunate and regrettable mistake. Despite that I do think the Mead’s are great coaches that push their athletes to the limit to help them achieve personal goals and team goals. Sadly, for some athletes it is too much.
Based on my knowledge of the program we have not observed any inappropriate behavior. What see and hear is a coach pushing his athletes to the outer edge of their physical limits.
And based on Pat’s reaction when the incident was reported to the coaching staff, the swimmers honestly believed that Pat had no idea of what was happening. It appears this was a misguided attempt to address a serious concern with the team. That being said, it was a mistake, against the law and just plain wrong. Sadly their family is and may continue to suffer with this mistake for years.
Unfortunately, the entire team is suffering from a huge distraction. The team now has to figure out how to pull together to make the most of what they have. They have great facilities, an energetic young interim head coach and opportunities. They can choose to seize the opportunities they have everyday or they can allow this to be a distraction that keeps them from reaching their full potential as a team.
Wishing the entire team Good luck and I hope they can seize their opportunities despite the ongoing distractions.
“Agree with mom” and “Curious”- you are both naive about this swimming program, and this incident is just the tip of the iceberg. What Maureen did was wrong but the underlying problem is with her husband, the head coach. My daughter swam for Towson for four years. During that time she witnessed first hand an ongoing inappropriate relationship between Pat Mead and a female swimmer. She reported this to the Towson administration 11 years ago, but her concerns fell on deaf ears. The University did nothing back then, so here we are today…
People really seem to have issues with Pat but if it can’t be proven he knew anything about the taping he has not committed a crime .Nothing he has done to the swimmers is a crime.Maureen will get community service and she will never be able to work with students again.TU will fire Pat .
Wow it sounds like a bunch of left wing liberals who have nothing better to do than ruin the lives of two outstanding coaches and their families. BFD, so there was a tape recording. Get over your little self righteous selves. it. No one was attacked, molested, hurt or raped.
I strongly feel the alumni should rally together and raise money for the Mead’s legal fees as a thank you and support for all the the positive they have done for the team for so many years.
You are delusional.
So you wouldn’t mind if your daughter was recorded (both video and audio) by her coach while she was changing in the team locker room and then looked in the eye by that coach and lied to about it? I find that very strange… Also, the team was most certainly hurt by the situation.
You are living in a fools paradise.
You must be kidding! If my daughter had been recorded (video and/or audio) in the privacy of a locker room, by her coach, I would definitely want an investigation and would pursue criminal charges. Do I feel bad for the Mead children? Yes, but that does not undo the illegal actions of their mother. The coach needs to be held accountable for her very illegal actions. No one has the right to video or audiotape someone without their consent, and the fact that some say there were video recordings of female student athletes who were naked/changing after swim practice…. that makes the recording without consent worse! How can you express support for someone who does this kind of thing to someone else’s daughter?
To “mom” you are completely wrong and your language awful!!
The punishment must fit the crime.No jail time some counciling and community service for Maureen. Just because you want retribution for Pat being a tough coach if you can’t prove he knew anything he is not part of this equation.She taped for a reason . I bet there are lots of problems with the team.like I said before some crazy kids and parents.
We are not crazy, nor are our kids and your name calling says a lot about you.
To “Mom” – you may know Maureen Mead, but I don’t. Her motives for taping the girls in the locker room could be anything: from trying to figure out what was being said/done by team members to something not so innocent: no one willl really ever know her motives. But one thing is for sure: she committed a felony that is punishable with up to 5 yrs in jail and/or up to 10K in fines. Don’t forget that some of us moms of girls do not want to set a precedent that it is okay for a coach, whether the coach is male or female, to videotape our kids when they are changing in the privacy of a locker room
I find these accusations totally out of character of Maureen. Before rushing to judgement is there any proof of a video showing anyone in the locker room, or is it based on he said she said, and if so what was actually on the video. For argument sake lets just assume she did record due to her suspicion of unethical behavior of team mates, and lets just say that she caught it on video or tape, well then Maureen would have been the hero instead of the reverse. Unfortunately, she was caught before the athlete was caught. Not to say that this is an ethical approach, but there must be some shady people on the diving or swim team for this attempt of the coach to approach it in this manner. My daughter was a swimmer for Pat. Knowing the characters of both Pat and Maureen if she had to do it all over again , and even with the knowledge of what recently took place, she would swim under Pat’s coaching all over again. She and I don’t believe for one minute that they are creepers. It wasn’t always easy training, but it brought out her best with tears at times, arguments, laughter, hard work, commitment and then the sweet taste of success and pride. After all, they were the undefeated champs many years in a row. He must be doing something right. You may not like him, but he is an amazing coach and a decent and smart man, loving husband and dad. Something doesn’t smell right with these accusations and I trust Pat and Maureen are going to climb out from the bottom of this mess and rise to the top.
So do you think that if one of Pat’s and Maureen’s daughters had been recorded in the privacy of a locker room, that they would have shrugged it off? I don’t believe that for a minute. Anyone whose daughter was violated by being recorded while changing would have had issues with that. I have a daughter, and I do not want coaches, teachers, etc to think that it is alright to video or audio record her in the privacy of a locker room, regardless of the motives/reasons for doing so
I never said it was right for Maureen to tape the team.It’s a crime and she will pay and she will be punished ,community service and worse she will never be able to get a job working with students.She won’t get jail time .You parents seem to want blood. That speaks volumes as to why this happened.I said Pat will be let go by TU. It’s all punishment for them. I also don’t mean literally mentally ill when I say crazy but dollars to donuts there is some “crazy” stuff that will come out .Maureen felt a need to tape the team. It didn’t come out of no where.
Maureen had absolutely no right to record anyone in the locker room. College is hard enough, kids are away from home and having something like this happen is an awful thing. Community service is not enough of a punishment imo. Other coaches, teachers, administrators need to learn from this: that no matter what the reasons may be, it is NEVER okay to record students (some may even be minors, since some freshmen are still 17) in a locker room or dorm or other place where privacy is expected. If Maureen gets away with this with simple community service, others may think about doing the same (recording in a place like a locker room) since the only punishment would be community service (a slap on the wrist).
As for the person who said her daughter would still swim for Pat even after all this, that is scary that a young lady would be okay swimming for the husband of a coach who has recorded girls during changing time in the locker room.
Also, remember that these coaches (Pat and Maureen) selected the swimmers and divers for the team. As head coaches, they had the last say as to whether a recruit made the team or not. If they were careless and allowed bad apples in the team, it really is their doing. No one wants to see the Meads hurt, but Maureen cannot get away with what she did: she needs true punishment, so that others in a position of power do not think about doing what Maureen did (many coaches, teachers do not need the job and do it only for fun, so what is to stop them from placing recording devices in a locker room if they know the worse that can happen, legally speaking, is community service?)
Yes it stinks that Pat may lose his job, but seriously, what parent would allow their daughter to swim for him knowing that his wife was recording girls changing in the locker room? Again, we will never know the true reasons for the recording, and I would rather be safe than sorry. What if this was not innocent? I simply do not gamble with my daughter
What Mo did can’t be ignored but I feel sorry for her as she is just another one of Pat’s victims. My daughter, who swam for TU more than a decade ago, told me about all the negative and nasty comments Pat would make about Mo to the team. Also , it was common knowledge that he cheated on her with members if the women’s swim team over the years. Maybe Mo was just trying to find out who on the team he was sleeping with this year…
So everyone who was wronged by Pat basically wants Maureen to go to jail for her “crime”? Let the punishment fit the crime.The peeping tom charge will be dropped she will pay a fine, do community service , go to counseling and never work again.It will also be hard for Pat to get a job.Do you think it’s really an appropriate punishment to put her in prison? It’s wrong to video tape students without their knowledge but come on ….prison.
We are not talking about video taping of girls watching TV or something, news reports say the girls on the video were naked! If someone videotaped me or my daughter naked/while changing in a locker room, yes I would want that person in jail. Videotaping someone changing is a horrible violation and those girls who were videotaped will probably have a hard time trusting a locker room or bathroom at school again. So yes, if indeed the video contains naked girls, Maureen needs to go to jail and never again be allowed to work with students. What was she thinking? She has daughters, doesn’t she? Think about how Maureen or Pat would react if one of their daughters had been videotaped naked/while changing….. I am sure they would pursue criminal charges
Not sure how I would feel if my children had been recorded/taped in a locker room situation. I do not believe, however, that I would want the wrongdoer’s life to be destroyed, particularly if this is out of character for an otherwise law-abiding citizen.
I remember the Sandusky case….. so many people turned a blind eye to his actions and the result? Many young people’s lives destroyed. I do not know Maureen Mead’s intentions/reasons/motives for recording the girls while changing in the locker room, but I do feel that such actions should not go unpunished because if we allow this kind of thing, what message would we send to other coaches and teachers out there? That it’s okay to video tape our kids in a locker room situation just because the coaches feel is the right thing to do? No, it would open a pandora box with potentially ugly consequences. There have been cases of law abiding citizens, who were great community volunteers, had great family lives etc, who turned out to be just awful people, but it took innocent young people getting hurt before these “law abiding citizens” were caught and stopped. Swim/Dive coaches are in a position of power, the swimmers/divers want to swim/dive in college and some have aspirations of doing so beyond college…. what Maureen did is a great betrayal of those swimmers/divers’ trust. What would Maureen do next if she feels she can get away with what she did? She needs to face the consequence of her actions, and I don’t care what her motives were: news reports say the videos included naked girls in the locker room – that cannot and should not be justified or forgiven, it is a crime and as such it should be treated. News reports, in the comment sections, state that for a while, team members did not know how Maureen and Pat knew information they had not told anyone but just discussed among themselves….. this implies that this may not have been the first time Maureen may have done this…..but this time she got caught. Law abiding citizens may be doing wrong things for a while and still be considered good people because they had not been caught yet. Maureen got caught and must face the consequences of her very illegal actions.
I am starting to agree with you Carla. I do think she will be punished and basically her life and Pat’s life in the swimming world is over.
What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? She may have been charged, but I don’t think that means guilty just yet.
Legally speaking, you are right, she is innocent until proven guilty. That said, remember it was her phone that was recording the girls in the locker room. I am not sure how Maureen can explain that to anyone. As a mom, I would not want my daughter near her again. Recording girls changing (peeping tom charge) is for some reason a misdemeanor in Maryland, but that does not mean parents will trust Maureen with their daughters again. TU did the right thing by removing Maureen from deck, and I hope there is more security in the locker rooms, to prevent this kind of recording of athletes again