The man who assaulted his wife in the Damariscotta Police Dept. parking lot April 11 pleaded guilty Aug. 6 and will likely avoid jail time.
Justin A. Holmes, 39, of Friendship, pleaded guilty to domestic violence assault, domestic violence reckless conduct, driving to endanger, terrorizing and theft by unauthorized taking in Lincoln County Superior Court.
The domestic violence reckless conduct charge is a Class C felony; the others Class D and E misdemeanors.
Holmes will remain free on personal recognizance until his sentencing, which will not take place for a year as part of his plea agreement.
If he continues domestic violence counseling, doesn’t have contact with his wife, with some exceptions; and abides by the other terms of a court order, the state would reduce the domestic violence and terrorizing charges and dismiss the theft charge.
Holmes would instead be sentenced for misdemeanor charges of assault, driving to endanger, reckless conduct and non-domestic violence terrorizing.
His defense attorney, Eric Morse, and the state would jointly recommend a suspended 90-day sentence and a year of probation for the reckless conduct charge, $300 fines for the assault and terrorizing charges, and the mandatory minimum fine and suspension for the driving to endanger charge.
If he fails to abide by the terms of the court order, he would face sentencing for the original charges.
Holmes, according to a statement by the wife in an affidavit by a Damariscotta Police patrol officer, followed the woman to the department, ramming her car several times along the way.
At the department, he choked and punched the woman in the parking lot and stole her car keys before fleeing the scene, nearly colliding with the patrol officer’s cruiser as he pulled into the lot.