Indecent act gets lawyer probation

Indecent act gets lawyer probation


Searsport man exposed himself
By Walter Griffin
BDN Staff

SEARSPORT, Maine — Local lawyer Peter Mason has been given a suspended jail sentence and probation after being found guilty of indecent conduct.

Mason, 59, was found guilty of the crime in a jury-waived trial last September. He was sentenced in Lincoln County Superior Court in Wiscasset on Tuesday.

Mason was sentenced to 20 days in jail, all suspended, and one year of probation when he appeared before Justice Andrew Morton. If he violates probation during that year, Mason would serve the 20 days in jail.

Mason was ordered to have no contact with the victim or her husband and to abstain from the use of alcohol. He also was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and alcohol counseling, according to Assistant Attorney General William Baghdoyan.

Mason must submit to random alcohol testing, although police must have suspicion that he is impaired if they intend to test him while at his law office or at court.

Because of Mason’s extensive professional dealings with the Waldo County District Attorney’s Office, prosecution of the case was turned over to the Attorney General’s Office and Baghdoyan was assigned the case.

A second charge for a similar offense involving another woman also has been filed. If Mason successfully completes his probation without engaging in further criminal conduct, the second charge will be dismissed, Baghdoyan said.

Mason was accused of exposing himself to a woman while he was parked at the On the Run store in Winterport on Oct. 17. The second charge stems from an alleged incident on July 4, 2007, that took place in Stockton Springs.

Baghdoyan said that in both cases it was alleged that Mason exposed his genitals to the women in a public place.

Baghdoyan said indecent conduct is a Class E misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000. Baghdoyan said he recommended that Mason be given a 60-day suspended sentence with probation. Defense attorney Steven C. Peterson of Rockport argued for a lighter sentence.

“The judge decided 20 days would be sufficient,” Baghdoyan said.

Baghdoyan said Justice Morton told Mason he decided on a jail term because of the unusual nature of the crime. Baghdoyan said people usually are cited for indecent conduct for urinating in public.

“This was not some college kid peeing outside a bar,” he said. “This was more sexual in nature.”

The September trial was heard over the course of two days by Morton in Sagadahoc County Superior Court in Bath. Sentencing was moved to Wiscasset because Morton was sitting there this week.

During the trial the court heard testimony from Mason, the victim and investigating officers from the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department.

Baghdoyan said both victims, who were current or former clients of Mason’s, had submitted complaints to the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar against Mason. The board could impose a number of possible sanctions, including informal reprimand, formal reprimand, suspension or disbarment.

“I would suspect that those complaints will be resolved fairly quickly now that the criminal case is completed,” he said. “If he’s given a reprimand or a suspension, it becomes public. If he’s given a warning, it does not.”

wgriffin@bangordailynews.net

338-9546

Not registered? Click here
E-mail this
Print this
Guidelines for posting on bangordailynews.com

Bangordailynews.com is pleased to offer a forum for readers to react to our stories, discuss them and provide additional information. We are reluctant to delete comments, but do reserve that right for those who abuse our forum. For more on using this site, please see our terms of service.

The primary rule here is pretty simple: Treat others with the same respect you'd want for yourself. What does that mean specifically? Here are some guidelines (see more):

Comments
27 comments on this item

He's a member of the Bar. Other members of the Bar decided that this "sexual predator" will be rehabilated after his 20 day suspended sentence. Good thing it wasn't a college kid taking a pee in the bushes, he probably would have got the book thrown at him.

Amen to what you said MikeinFK. Was going to write a similar thing but your words say it all.

Did people actually expect him to get in any real trouble? He is a lawyer.

I just don't understand our justice system. The next time he is caught it could be for raping a child. Intentionally exposing himself in public is a red flag that should not be ignored. Now he's on the street to do it again. And you are so right MikeinFK if it was anyone else the out-come would be a different story.

This is another clear case of societal standards. If I or someone else who was poor or had no professional connectios did this then we'd be up fr sexual misconduct or something far more severe. We'd get a sentence, fine and probation as well as counseling and be told to attend some sort of recovery groups for addictional issues. This society is starting to hold the rich and well connected accountable, yet it is still very far off from equal standards for all.

If anyone who wasn't a lawyer pulled it out in public, they'd get jail time. Being drunk absolutely no excuse for this perverted behavior. I've been drunk before and I've never felt any urge to expose myself - the urge is there before the drink is taken. And we wonder why we can't get competent legal representation - they're all out shaking it at women in parking lots. Disgusting man.

He received less punishment than an OUI. It is probable that he committed an OUI at the time of the violation unless someone else was driving the car.

Having had the misfortune of dealing with Mr. Mason in court, I am sure that his shortcomings are not just limited to his skills as a lawyer. Rumor has it that he has been exposing himself for years...an incident involving him threatening someone with a weapon years ago was also alleged...the police have covered up for him for years, sweeping this abherrent behavior under the rug.

Thankfully Mrs. Wyman pursued the matter and brought this all to light. Peter Mason should be disbarred.

does anyone remember how lawyers are conceived?...........jus sayin

Perfect----.

Bagdoyhan must have begged for this one --- he didn't have search the bathrooms of Augusta -- for what Mason would do voluntarily.

Can you imagine what plea negotiations were like.

Pure slime---.

I'm sure the board of overseers are are going will mandate a lock monitor for his zippers.

This is a violation of the Penis Code.

lol Rogue Wave

This guy's getting special treatment, not because of the sentence suspension so much as the court's agreement to dismiss the other pending charge provided the defendant gets through his probation period without further misconduct. There's something real weird about this guy and he shouldn't be practicing law. I don't have the feeling that these two incidents are isolated and that Mr. Mason is going to change his behavior. Let's see what the Board of Bar Overseers does. My impression is that there should be a long suspension of his right to practice.

He should be disbarred...and good point SiddFinch

There are many more victims of Peter Mason's perverse behavior than just the two women who have come forward. If you are female, and have worked at a convenience store in the Searsport/Stockton area, you have probably seen more of him than you wanted to.

He drives a red Jeep Wrangler and buys Pabst Blue Ribbon pounders...

What a GOOBER...this my friends is why you should stay away from alchohol...it makes some people do kooky desperate idiodic things.

My mother used his glass jars for canning tomatoes

Is anyone suprised about a PREDATORY LAWYER anymore? Did we really think anything would be done to this pervert. Myself I can't wait for the day he does this and gets maced or stunned.

Lewis85 I can't wait for the day either. Since he didn't get disbarred, future clients should refrain from shaking his hand!!!!

Mr. Mason is not only a drunken pervert, but his skills as a lawyer leave much to be desired. His "practice" is to be avoided at all costs.

I think we can all agree that this man is a slime ball! If he gets caught again, then maybe the judge and anyone who has been involved with him getting off with probation, should be prosecuted for the same crime. It would be my feeling that maybe this lawyer needs a blanket party! Maybe they need to write a new song similar to "Good-bye Earl".

I dunno what he was thinking, but the story sure did make for some interesting conversation around boring ole Searsport.

This is not a goober!!! This is an exibitionist and if he buying Pabst Blue Ribbon business must be poor. Alcohol does not make you do this. This is a personality problem. I know a lot of people that like to have a few drinks and none of them do this.

I know some ladies that he flashed...they said he's hung like a squirrel.

So what does this have to do with squirrels?

I'm in no way saying what this guy did was right or that it should be tolerated but why is it so acceptable for women to show their goods? Thousands if not tens of thousands flash their breasts at mardi gras alone? What about 'girls gone wild' on the beaches during spring break and being advertised on tv all night after 11pm? Nothing happens to them except that they get cheered and some even paid. Do the cops say or do anything? No. If they were by chance ever arrested and went to court would anything more than a $50 fine be handed down? No. So whats the difference here.

You must be logged in to post a comment. click here to log in.

Powered by: Creative Circle Advertising Solutions, Inc.