ROCKLAND, Maine — A 65-year-old Rockland man pleaded guilty Thursday to two misdemeanor charges for dropping his snow plow and inundating political demonstrators with ice, snow, and gravel earlier this year.
Under the plea agreement reached between the district attorney’s office and defense, Michael Robinson will be fined a total of $600 if he meets terms of a two-year deferred disposition. If he violates the terms, he could be sentenced to up to a year in jail.
One side of the state courtroom in Knox County was packed with victims who were peacefully protesting the administration of President Donald Trump on Feb. 21, 2026, at the city park at the intersection of Park and Main streets. Ten people submitted victim impact statements to the court and three of the protesters spoke and urged Judge Sarah Gilbert not to accept the agreement.
The plea agreement dismissed a felony charge of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, as well as a misdemeanor charge of driving to endanger.
Sarah Holland, one of the demonstrators, said she was knocked down by a wave of snow, slush and ice. She noted she and the others were not even on the sidewalk but on the snowy grass. She said the people in attendance at the protests did not know if Robinson was going to return again and repeat his action, or worse that he might drive into the crowd.
She is worried that protesters are being targeted, noting that he posted on social media that vigilante justice should be imposed on all Democrats. Holland said right-wing supporters of Robinson have called him a hero. And others said they may do what Robinson did to other protesters.
“Many referred to protesters as speed bumps,” she said. “Ongoing rhetoric was inspired by this incident.”
Holland said restorative justice was not appropriate in this case. She said this was a politically motivated act of violence meant to intimidate people from expressing their free speech rights.
She said that at least the court should take away Robinson’s right to operate a motor vehicle since this was the weapon he used in the attack.
Terms of the plea agreement calls for him not to possess dangerous weapons, to undertake mental health and anger management evaluations, and to perform 100 hours of community service over the next two years. If he meets those conditions, he would be fined at a sentencing hearing in two years.
Robert White, another protester, said he suffered a chipped tooth and scratched glasses from the assault. He noted the people at the protest were mostly older people but were from all walks of life expressing their views.
“We all share a passion for the issues of the day affecting our lives from a government that we see as out of control,” White said. “We cherish our First Amendment right to gather for an hour each week to express our dissent. What can be more American than that?”
He said what could be more un-American than assaulting such a group of peaceful protesters.
Gilbert acknowledged the impact the assault had on the community.
“There’s nothing heroic about committing a crime. There’s nothing heroic about assault,” Gilbert said.
Robinson was arrested and released on $1,000 bail following the Feb. 21 attack. He has been free on bail since then.
He did not speak other than to enter his guilty pleas and that he understood the rights he was giving up by pleading guilty.
Assistant District Attorney Christopher Fernald said after consultation with the district attorney and the court, the state was not certain it could prove a felony, and that is why the plea agreement was negotiated.
Fernald said Robinson has only a minor criminal record in the past 18 years.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.