FREDERICK, Md. (AP) — A former Frederick County sheriff’s deputy is avoiding jail time for misconduct in a case stemming from allegations he molested a 14-year-old girl.

The Frederick News-Post reports that 47-year-old Sam Bowman got a suspended 18-month jail term at his sentencing Thursday in Frederick. He got two years of supervised probation in a plea deal.

Bowman was charged last year with child sex abuse and fourth-degree sex offense involving a ninth-grader he met while working as a Walkersville High School resource officer.

Bowman acknowledged he drove the girl home in his police cruiser without authorization and went inside her house. He claims he was looking for evidence of drug use but found none.

His cruiser’s GPS system showed he was at the house for more than an hour.
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(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)