Timothy Belcher, the leader of the state's workers' union, has requested that a jury hear allegations that he illegally blocked a UPS driver from continuing his rounds earlier this summer.

Belcher's attorney, Leonard Sharon, said this week that a trial date has not yet been set in Sagadahoc County Superior Court.

Belcher, 53, the executive director of the Maine State Employee Association, a labor union representing more than 15,000 public and private sector workers throughout Maine, was issued a summons charging him with criminal restraint on June 25 after allegedly standing in front of the UPS drivers' truck to prevent it from leaving the driveway to Belcher's Bowdoinham home.

Criminal restraint is a Class D misdemeanor that carries a maximum potential penalty of a year in jail and a fine, Sharon said. Other Class D misdemeanors include assault and operating under the influence.

"It seems to me the entire matter could have dealt without charging my client," Sharon said. "I think (the charge) overstates what occurred here."

Maine State Police responded to the Belcher's home around 3 p.m. on June 25 after UPS dispatchers reported Belcher was refusing to let one of the company's driver's leave, said Trooper Christopher Rogers of the state police. When Rogers arrived at the home about 30 minutes after the initial call, Belcher was still standing in front of the UPS truck to block its path out of the driveway, Rogers said.

Jason Ashton, the UPS driver, told Rogers that the Belchers had refused delivery of the package so Ashton took the package back to his truck and tried to leave.

"Mr. Belcher didn't like that and he wouldn't let the UPS driver leave," Rogers said, adding that at one point Belcher sat in front of the UPS truck with his arms crossed.

Ashton warned Belcher he would call the police if Belcher did not move, Rogers said.

"He just seemed to be irrational at the time and wasn't making good decisions," Rogers said. "He knew the UPS driver wanted to leave. The driver clearly communicated that to him. He had no grounds whatsoever not to allow him to leave."

Sharon, however, said Belcher was defending his wife, who initially declined delivery because the package was damaged. She changed her mind when she saw the package was test results regarding college admission for the Belcher's son, Sharon said.

"The driver became verbally abusive toward Tim's wife," Sharon said. "Tim was reacting to verbal abuse of his wife, which caused him to confront this guy."

UPS spokesman Dan McMackin said Ashton acted courteously and ultimately left with the package, as he is required to do, because the package was sent through a special "signature required" service. The service is sometimes used for important items such as prescription drugs, McMackin said.

"The procedure is if the customer refuses to sign, we record 'refused' in the hand-held computer," McMackin said. "So he did follow procedure."

Ashton tried to resolve the issue, including an offer to put the Belchers in touch with the service manager to explain the signature requirement, McMackin said.

"He was extremely courteous," McMackin said. "I think our driver did a wonderful job of following procedures and trying to help the customer."

McMacklin said UPS and the police subsequently received a letter of apology from Belcher and that the gesture was "very generous."

Sharon is unsure when, or even if, the case will go to trial.

"I'm very hopeful (Belcher will) walk away from this without any criminal blemish on his record," Sharon said.

Sharon, who pointed out that the incident involves a driver who is represented by a union, said the incident should have no impact on Belcher's position as head of the state workers' union.

"I don't think the end result of this will have any affect on him whatsoever," Sharon said. "It would be a shame if it did. Anyone who knows (Belcher) knows he's always fought for the rights of union workers."

Craig Crosby -- 623-3811, Ext. 433

ccrosby@centralmaine.com