PORTSMOUTH — A maintenance man who was court-ordered to undergo a sex offender evaluation, after pleading guilty to hiding a video camera in a Newington chiropractic massage room, did not have the evaluation, then failed to appear in court Monday for breaching that bail condition, police allege.

As a result, a $1,000 cash warrant was issued for the arrest of Richard Baldwin, 36, of 2299 Woodbury Ave., Newington, for probation violation and failure to appear in court.

According to Portsmouth District Court records, Baldwin was referred to a probation officer for the purpose of monitoring his compliance with the court order to be evaluated and he was ordered to comply with all recommended follow-up treatment. A Jan. 29 probation report to the court alleges Baldwin "has not provided an evaluation" and he was ordered to appear March 3 for breaching that bail condition. When he didn't appear, Judge Sawako Gardner issued the warrant for his arrest.

Another condition of Baldwin's bail was a 6-month suspended jail sentence which can be imposed if he is found guilty of the new charges.

Baldwin pleaded guilty on July 2, 2007, to a class A misdemeanor charge of violation of privacy. According to an affidavit filed with the court by Newington Police Detective Scott Qualls, Baldwin confessed to hiding the camera behind a plant inside a massage room at Seacoast Spine and Injury on Woodbury Avenue.

The affidavit tells the court that Newington police were called to the chiropractic office on May 21, 2007, by a staff chiropractor who said he was checking a malfunctioning CD player, when he moved the plant and saw a small camera connected to a power cord. The reporting chiropractor told police Baldwin had access to the business after hours, in the event of an emergency, because he was the caretaker for the building which shares his address.

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