FRIENDSHIP, Maine — A 42-year-old man from Friendship will serve 30 days in jail after he was sentenced Thursday for assaulting a woman and beating a dog.
A charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person was dismissed.
Jonathan J. Sevon was sentenced by Justice William Stokes in Knox County Unified Court to one year in jail with all but 30 days suspended for domestic violence assault. He also was placed on probation for a year. A concurrent 30-day sentence was imposed for cruelty to an animal.
According to an affidavit filed in court by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, two girls reported the crimes to a school official who contacted police. Assistant District Attorney Christopher Fernald said the victim reported that Sevon had grabbed her by the throat and police observed red marks.
The girls and the victim told police that Sevon became angry on Jan. 20, attacked the woman and punched their dog until it ran off. He then went and got a handgun, loaded it and laid on a couch. Sevon is barred from possessing a firearm because of a 2006 drug conviction, according to court records.
Fernald said the sentence agreement was reached because the victim and the witnesses, after initially talking to police, stopped cooperating with authorities. The gun was never found and the defense would argue that the girls were mistaken and that it was only a pellet gun, Fernald said.
Justice Stokes agreed to the defense request to hold off the start of the jail sentence until Oct. 1.
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.