CAMDEN — A Camden man appeared in Knox County Unified Court in Rockland June 8 and pleaded not guilty to charges of harassing a Camden family on Facebook over an extended period of time.

Charles F. Berry, 64, of Camden, was arrested in April on a warrant and charged with harassment by an electronic device and disorderly conduct, according to Camden Detective Curt Andrick.

Berry had been posting on Facebook under the name “Bishop Whitecrow,” and had allegedly been harassing the family for more than three years, according to court documents.

Andrick described Berry’s posts as vulgar and obscene in the court document.

Andrick said they have collected hundreds of Berry’s posts from his Facebook page, and the posts have followed a similar pattern of being offensive and threatening against the Camden family. Berry’s most recent post was considered different, because he posted a picture of the victims from their Facebook page to his page and included an offensive caption with the picture, according to the court document.

The detective said that the First Amendment does protect vulgar and obscene speech, but in this particular case, “it has gone over the top” and Berry’s actions are considered criminal conduct.

Berry was initially taken to Knox County Jail and later released after posting $260 cash bail. Under the terms of his bail, he is not to have any contact directly or indirectly with the victims on social media.

In April, Berry filed a motion with the court to amend his bail to remove the condition that he did not drink alcohol. He stated alcohol use is irrelevant to the charges against him. Judge Daniel Billings denied Berry’s request.

Berry will make his next appearance in Knox County Unified Court on July 31.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com