ROCKLAND, Maine — A Cushing man was fined Tuesday after admitting he threatened a driver’s education instructor and brought a rifle onto school property.
The prosecution stressed, however, that the threat did not involve the weapon and the rifle was not displayed during the confrontation.
Christopher J. Pease, 40, pleaded guilty Thursday in Knox County Superior Court to criminal threatening, disorderly conduct and possession of a firearm on school property.
Assistant District Attorney Christopher Fernald said that Pease went to the school to pick up his son from a driver’s education class. An argument occurred over how the class went, and Pease made threats to harm the instructor, the prosecutor said.
When police were called, they found Pease had an unloaded rifle in the car.
The incident occurred Nov. 27 in Rockland, according to court papers. At the time of the incident, Rockland police said they were questioning a student over a confrontation with a staff member in the hallway of Oceanside High School East. Police said the initial report was that a gun was mentioned.
The incident occurred at 7:30 a.m. on a day when school was not in session — the day before Thanksgiving — although some student athletes and other staff members were present.
Rockland Police Chief Bruce Boucher said at the time that it is common for people in Maine to have a rifle in a vehicle during hunting season.
Justice Dan Billings fined Pease $250 for each of the three offenses.