BANGOR, Maine — A Hampden man accused of threatening his wife with a shotgun early Easter morning nearly two years ago was found guilty Wednesday of two charges by a jury at the Penobscot Judicial Center.
Perry Brent Antone Jr. , 33, was convicted of felony domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and threatening display of a weapon, a misdemeanor, after the jury of 10 women and two men deliberated for an hour and 10 minutes.
The trial began Tuesday before Superior Court Justice William Anderson.
A sentencing date has not been set.
Antone remains free on personal recognizance bail.
The judge dismissed two counts of violation of conditions of release and two counts of violation of a protection order, all misdemeanors, on a motion by the defense before closing arguments were made.
Antone was home on leave from the U.S. Army when he went out drinking the night of April 19, 20014, and returned home late, Assistant Attorney General Paul Rucha, who is prosecuting the case, said Tuesday in his opening statement. Antone and his wife got into an argument that woke the couple’s then 9-year-old son and then 6-year-old daughter.
Antone’s wife took the children out to one of the couple’s two vehicles but did not have the keys, Rucha told the jury. Antone came out of the house with a shotgun and circled the car, while racking the weapon.
After a few minutes, Antone went back into the couple’s mobile home, about a quarter-mile off West Winterport Road, the prosecutor said. The woman took the children down the long driveway and called 911 about 1:10 a.m. April 20, 2014.
Hampden police Officer Ben Eyles spoke with Antone for about an hour before he left the home unarmed and turned himself over to police about 2 a.m., according to a previously published report.
Defense attorney Walter McKee of Augusta told jurors in his opening statement that the gun was not loaded and Antone showed his wife it was not loaded.
Antone and his wife divorced last year, according to documents filed at the Penobscot Judicial Center.
The Maine attorney general’s office last year took over prosecution of the case at the request of Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy. Antone’s father, Perry Antone Sr., is the police chief in Brewer and works closely with Almy and his staff.
“They wanted to avoid any conflict,” Timothy Feeley, spokesman for the attorney general’s office, said in June.
Perry Brent Antone Jr. faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 on the domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon charge. He faces up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000 on the threatening display of a weapon.
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.