BANGOR, Maine — A Brewer man who in September allegedly broke the wing of a gull in Pickering Square by throwing a rock at it pleaded guilty Friday at the Penobscot Judicial Center to criminal trespass and paid a $150 fine.
Juan Puig, 21, who was charged with the civil violation of cruelty to birds, admitted he was in the square when the bird’s wing was broken but denied throwing the rock, James Aucoin, assistant district attorney for Penobscot County, said Monday.
The bird had to be euthanized, Bangor police said at the time of the incident.
The civil charge of cruelty to birds was dropped in a plea agreement with his office, according to Aucoin.
“I gave him the benefit of the doubt,” the prosecutor said Monday.
Puig was charged with cruelty to birds on Sept. 21 and ordered to stay away from Pickering Square, according to Bangor police.
Two days later, Puig was arrested about 9:15 p.m. in Pickering Square on the criminal trespass charge for returning when he was forbidden to be in the square for a year after the bird’s wing was broken.
Puig faced up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $1,000 on the Class E criminal trespass charge.