DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — A Sangerville woman accused of firing a round from a handgun into a mattress during a domestic dispute pleaded no contest to a reduced charge during an appearance at Piscataquis County Judicial Center Monday afternoon.
Emily Wilson, 38, of Sangerville originally faced charges of domestic violence reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, a Class C crime, and domestic violence assault, a Class D crime.
On Monday, she instead pleaded no contest to one count of criminal mischief, a Class D crime, as part of a deal brokered by her defense attorney, Marvin Glazier of Bangor, and Piscataquis County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy. As part of the plea deal, Wilson agreed to pay a $620 fine.
Almy said he agreed to the plea deal because the alleged victim, Wilson’s husband, is “rather adamant about the outcome in this case” and didn’t want any charges filed against his wife.
He said the defendant’s husband was upset with how Almy’s office handled the case and was not cooperative with the prosecution. Almy said the deal was “as fair a resolution as we can get.”
Glazier said his client wanted to avoid a jury trial and that “this is the best resolution for everybody.”
Superior Court Justice William Anderson accepted the terms of the deal.
Wilson and her husband, a Piscataquis County deputy sheriff, got into an argument in their bedroom on April 18, according to Almy. During the argument, she waved a loaded .45-caliber handgun about before firing a shot into the mattress of their bed, the prosecutor said. The gun, which was hers, and a shell casing recovered from the floor under the bed were seized as evidence. Wilson was arrested later that day and soon posted bail.
The husband, who is not being named because he is a possible victim of domestic violence, called the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office to report the incident who called the Maine State Police to investigate, Almy said.
If convicted on the more serious charges of domestic violence reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and domestic violence assault, she would have faced up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, and up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000, respectively.
BDN writer Judy Harrison contributed to this report.
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.
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