DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — The Maine Warden Service’s chief pilot pleaded no contest Tuesday morning in Piscataquis County Superior Court to a disorderly conduct charge.
On June 3, Charles Later was charged with domestic violence assault, obstructing the report of a crime and criminal mischief. Those charges were dropped.
District Attorney R. Christopher Almy said he had to drop the charges because the victim, Later’s wife, refused to cooperate with his office.
“The victim has been reluctant to work with us at all,” said Almy. “The impression is she won’t cooperate with our office to prosecute this case.”
Later, 54, of Shirley was accused of throwing items and food while he was intoxicated. He was also accused of shoving his wife and ripping the phone out of the wall when she called police. He left the house when the dispatcher called back.
Later had a condition of no contact with the victim. “We have no way of saying it wasn’t [violated],” Almy said.
Superior Court Justice William Anderson asked Almy if the plea was a better option than going to trial.
“Absolutely,” said Almy. “If we would go to trial, I have no idea what would happen [because of the victim’s lack of cooperation]. That’s not a worthwhile effort of our resources.”
Anderson then asked Almy if the reduced sentence was related to Later’s occupation. Almy strongly rejected that notion.
“I would not do something like that, Judge,” said Almy, noting that he has prosecuted police officers in the past.
Anderson ordered Later to pay a $500 fine.
Later’s attorney, David Szewczyk, declined to speak to the press after the hearing. On June 25, Szewczyk entered a plea of not guilty to the original charges on Later’s behalf.
After his arrest, Later was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the sheriff’s investigation and a review by the Piscataquis County district attorney’s office, according to Cpl. John MacDonald of the Maine Warden Service, which is conducting its own independent investigation of the incident.
MacDonald did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.
Later was hired as the warden service’s chief pilot in April 1999, according to Bangor Daily News archives.
Sweet, he’ll keep his job, his pay he received on “administrative leave”, a little misdemeanor on his record. Just a good ole boy…
Do you really think he deserves any worse? Personally, I don’t. He made a serious mistake while drinking. Willing to bet he has dealt with that issue and it will never happen again. We seem to have become a bunch of sanctimoneous, self righteous dodoes who love to poke it to anyone who messes up; no matter what their past behaviour or contribution to society has been. “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”
And which member of his family are you?
I love how you edited the getting drunk part out of your comment by the way…
Everybody must get stoned.
I believe he deserves worse, but if the victim won’t cooperate he won’t be convicted at all. Frankly, I’m surprised he accepted a plea deal. No victim=No conviction. He probably would have walked away with nothing on his record. Hopefully the warden service will deal appropriately with him.
So much for LePage’s Crusade against domestic violence. I gusee the Judge and DA did not get that memo. I hope the swine enjoyed his paid time off at Tax payers expense.
Since the victim would not cooperate, better to have a trial in which he is acquitted??
Move along nothing to see here,next case…
A $500.00 fine?! That’s IT?! Judge Anderson also should have imposed anger management classes and AA.
What happened to the D. A.’s ability to prosecute domestic violence even when the victim will not testify? I thought that a case could be made based on the observed and documented evidence when Law Enforcement arrived. How about the phone torn out of the wall to corroborate the wife’s initial statement that Later pulled it out to prevent her calling the police for help? How about her appearance–torn clothes, bruises? All of this is evidence even absent the victim’s subsequent cooperation. I find it incredible that the D. A. could only charge Later with disorderly conduct!
And Chief warden pilot Later, you sure worked the system. To plead no contest to a reduced charge means you not only got off easy, but also that you have not accepted responsibility for your actions. Your judgment may have been impaired at the time your alleged crime was committed, but you’ve had plenty of time since to reflect on right vs. wrong. Your plea deal is evidence of impaired integrity as a husband, and as a member of Law Enforcement. You may be a reputable pilot, able to take off and land a plane, but you sure missed the mark on what it takes to be called an honorable man.
thats wrong time for almy to move on he is as corrupt as the rest of them….another result of the system working in favor of scumbagz..the evidence was there the physical evidence so a case could have been made way to lie almy you dirt pusher….
This guy sure has the scare into her so she will not talk. She must fear for her life or the life of others. Where are the womens groups to speak out on this ? And to think OUR taxes paid for his meals. The guy obviously has a major problem and should have been ordered to attend AA and do community service.
With Almy and Anderson, our system is very weak and getting weaker. Of course, the good ole boy network is at play and the taxpayer, gets it yet once again. Just watch Judge Anderson’s cases with Almy, little slaps on the wrist however a poor person seems to get the max……
his right to own or possess firearms should permanently be revoked…if he was common folk they would have already seized all his weapons …this stinks..time to get a new DA..anyone know the federal statute on this???