ROCKLAND, Maine — A 61-year-old Rockland man who has been charged multiple times this year for violating a court order to have no contact with a former companion is back behind bars.
At the request of his probation officer, Judge Patricia Worth ordered Alfred F. “Chipper” Widdecombe held without bail during a Wednesday afternoon hearing in Rockland District Court. Widdecombe was arrested Tuesday and charged with violating a protective order.
Widdecombe was on probation after being convicted in April of the same offense.
According to an affidavit filed by the Rockland Police Department, the woman who obtained the protection order against Widdecombe said she was going into the Rite-Aid Pharmacy in Rockland when she heard him speak to her, asking why she couldn’t say hello.
The woman said she was startled and he apologized repeatedly. She said nothing and went into the store, according to the police report. Rockland police said when they spoke with Widdecombe after the woman contacted police, he admitted he knew he was barred from having any direct or indirect contact with her. Officers then arrested him.
In April, he was sentenced to 90 days in jail with all but 48 hours suspended and placed on probation for a year for violating the order. He was later charged with violating the order again on Aug. 23 but released from jail.
The woman had obtained the protection order after she and Widdecombe ended a relationship. She had asked him to leave her home because he would frequently become verbally abusive, according to the affidavit.
Widdecombe worked for the Knox County’s Sheriff’s office from 1975 until 1990. He rose to the rank of sergeant and was the assistant jail administrator for the final three years he worked for the department.