Nobleboro Fire Chief Ryan Gallagher pleaded guilty to assault and obstructing the report of a crime or injury Feb. 27, and a domestic violence assault charge against him was dismissed.
Gallagher, 41, of Damariscotta, was arrested Aug. 29, 2014 by Damariscotta Police Officer Devin Polizzotti and originally charged with just the domestic violence assault.
Polizzotti said he was responding to Gallagher’s home to check on a 911 hang-up.
After speaking to the parties there, “there was evidence that one of the parties involved had been assaulted, and according to Maine statute, I arrested (Gallagher) for domestic violence assault,” Polizzotti said at the time.
Gallagher was taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset and was released the same day on $1,000 unsecured bail, jail staff said at the time.
A supplementary complaint charging Gallagher with assault and obstruction – offenses also said to have occurred on or about Aug. 29, 2014 but against a different victim – was filed in November 2014.
In Lincoln County Superior Court Feb. 27, Justice Daniel Billings accepted Gallagher’s guilty pleas, but sentencing in the matter was deferred for 12 months.
If Gallagher meets the conditions of a deferred disposition agreement, such as refraining from all criminal conduct and continuing psychological counseling, he will pay a $300 fine for the assault and a $250 fine for the obstructing charge.
If Gallagher fails to meet the conditions, he will be subject to an open plea on both charges, meaning he could face 364 days in jail and up to a $2,000 fine on each charge.
Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Liberman, the prosecutor in the case, said he preferred not to comment on the details of the allegations in the case, but did explain the reason for dismissing the domestic violence charge against Gallagher.
“The victim of the domestic violence assault charge was uncooperative with the prosecution, and had since reported … that she didn’t remember significant details of the underlying incident,” Liberman said. “The likelihood of a successful prosecution on that charge had greatly diminished.”
Gallagher’s attorney, William Avantaggio, had no comment on the case.
Nobleboro Selectman Chair Dick Spear said he personally did not believe the criminal charges relate to Gallagher’s role as fire chief for the town, but said he will likely bring up the case to his fellow selectmen.
“I’ve talked with Ryan and understood what happened, and I think he’s a real good asset to the town to be the fire chief,” Spear said.
