BELFAST, Maine — A Unity man will spend six months in jail after pleading guilty last week to domestic violence assault and tampering with a victim that occurred when he snuck into his wife’s home despite a protection from abuse order telling him to stay away.
Stephen A. Smith, 27, had been arrested at the end of September after he choked and assaulted the woman at their home, according to BDN archives. The woman told deputies from the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office that after an argument became physical, she tried to call 911 but he grabbed the phone from her and then jumped in his truck and drove away. When he came back a short time later, she locked the doors, but he crawled in through a bedroom window and grabbed her by the neck and started to choke her, she told police.
After the incident, Smith was charged with domestic violence assault and obstructing the report of a crime. She obtained a protection from abuse order that mandated he stay away from her.
But a month later, police heard that Smith had allegedly been texting his estranged wife to tell her to tell police she had lied so he wouldn’t have to go to jail. They also were told that Smith had been in contact with the victim. They went to her home one evening and saw his car parked there. The woman told police that Smith had “spoken openly” about not adhering to the protection order, and had asked her to “help him out” regarding his criminal charges, according to a police report from the sheriff’s office that is filed at Waldo County Superior Court.
The woman said that before, when Smith had struck her, she had stood by him, but she now felt “done,” Sgt. James Greeley wrote in his report.
Smith was charged with class B tampering with a victim, a crime with a possible sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $20,000. He also was charged with violating a protection from abuse order and violating his conditions of release.
Last week, he pleaded guilty at Waldo County Superior Court to all charges and was sentenced to three years in prison with all but six months suspended and two years of probation.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TRS 800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.