Maine Man Pleads Not Guilty in Preschool Gun Scare

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A Maine man whose 4-year-old son brought a loaded handgun to a day care center has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor reckless conduct.

Adam Keene's lawyer entered a not guilty plea on the Madison man's behalf Wednesday. The 31-year-old Keene did not appear in court.

Police say an employee found the semi-automatic handgun in a bag the boy brought to day care center in Hallowell in April. The safety was on, but a round was in the chamber.

District Attorney Maeghan Maloney tells WGME-TV it appears Keene put the gun in the bag, then forgot about it. Because she thinks Keene's acts were unintentional, he was not charged with a felony.

Keene owned the gun legally.

His lawyer said while the situation was "scary," he's not convinced a crime was committed.