A jury in Sagadahoc County Superior Court found a Massachusetts man guilty of assault in a courtroom attack on a former State Trooper standing trial in April 2012 for unlawful sexual contact with a minor.
The attack came moments a Lincoln County jury was to deliver a verdict in the trial of Gregory Vrooman, 47, of Nobleboro.
According to reports, William Harrison, 40, of Charleston, Mass., jumped a barrier and punched Vrooman multiple times before being subdued and arrested by law enforcement.
Harrison, a relative of the victim in the Vrooman case, was charged and later indicted by grand jury with aggravated assault, a Class B felony.
Following the assault, Justice Jeffrey Hjelm excused the jury, who instead returned their verdict the following day.
Vrooman was found guilty of four counts of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, four counts of unlawful sexual touching with a minor, and four counts of assault. He was acquitted of one count of tampering with a witness or victim.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed judgment in the Vrooman case this summer after his lawyer appealed over a denied motion to suppress evidence in the case.
Vrooman was sentenced to five years in prison with all but 21 months suspended, which he is currently serving, followed by four years probation.
The jury in Harrison’s trial, which concluded Sept. 18, returned a verdict finding Harrison not guilty of aggravated assault, but instead guilty of assault, a Class D misdemeanor, according to courthouse staff.
Sentencing of Harrison is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at West Bath District Court.
