BANGOR, Maine — A domestic violence criminal case involving the son of Brewer’s chief of police is now being handled by the state Attorney General’s Office in order to avoid a conflict of interest with local prosecutors, AG spokesman Tim Feeley stated in a Tuesday email.
Perry Antone Jr., 32, was charged with felony domestic violence criminal threatening after he allegedly threatened his family with a gun at their Hampden home on March 23, 2014, Hampden Police Chief Joe Rogers said at the time.
“The case was referred to this office by the DA because the defendant is the son of the Brewer Police Chief and they wanted to avoid any conflict,” Feeley said, referring to the Penobscot County district attorney’s office. “The case is on the July trial list.”
Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy said there was “a conflict” because Antone’s father, Perry Antone Sr., is Brewer’s police chief and the DA’s office works with him often.
Perry Antone Jr. is facing six charges — felony domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, as well as misdemeanor threatening display of a weapon, two counts of violation of conditions of release and two counts of violation of a protection order, Feeley said.
The younger Antone has a criminal history that dates back to 2001. He pleaded guilty in 2002 to eight counts of misdemeanor theft in relation to a three-week crime spree in the Bangor area he and two friends undertook in September 2001.
Assistant Attorney General Paul Rucha is handling the domestic violence case, Feeley and Almy said. Antone’s defense attorney is William Bart of Bangor, and his next court date is July 9, according to a court clerk at the Penobscot Judicial Center. Bart said on Tuesday that he expects the case to go to trial.
Antone Jr. reportedly came home intoxicated in 2014 and got into a fight with his wife, who eventually left their West Winterport Road home with their two young children, Rogers said. She got into her vehicle but her keys were inside, the police chief said.
“He came out and had a shotgun — we don’t know if it was loaded — and circled the car,” Rogers said of Antone Jr.
His wife called 911 at about 1:10 a.m. and police went to the residence. Eventually, Antone Jr. went back inside the house, and his wife and children were able to escape and met up with police at the end of their long driveway, Rogers said.
Hampden police Officer Ben Eyles contacted Antone Jr. by phone “and talked to him for about an hour,” the police chief said.
Local police had called for assistance from the Maine State Police tactical team, but the team was called off when Antone Jr. exited the house unarmed and turned himself over to police.
Antone Jr. was charged with felony domestic violence criminal threatening because the crime involved a firearm, Rogers said. He was taken to Penobscot County Jail, and staff there referred him to an area hospital for an evaluation. Antone Jr. was later released on personal recognizance bail. His bail conditions include no use of alcohol or possession weapons, and he is barred from having contact with his alleged victims, a jail official said.
If convicted of the felony domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, the most serious of the six charges against him, Antone Jr. could face a penalty of up five years in prison.