Don McLean Resolves Domestic Violence Case After Plea Bargain
After a year-and-a-half, singer-songwriter Don McLean has resolved his domestic violence case by paying a fine. The 71-year-old troubadour paid $3,660 on Thursday (July 20) to settle the case, the Portland Press Herald reports.
McLean was arrested and charged with domestic violence when police responded to a call at his home in Camden, Maine, during the early morning of Jan. 18, 2016, after his wife Patrisha reported he had been terrorizing her.
The singer -- who's best known for a string of '70s pop hits including "American Pie," "Vincent" and "And I Love You So," and later scored some country hits -- was hit with additional charges that February including threatening, terrorizing, criminal restraint, obstruction and criminal mischief.
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He initially pleaded not guilty to all of the charges, but in July of 2016 he reversed course and pleaded guilty to several misdemeanor counts as part of a plea deal that would see those charges dismissed after one year if he complied with all of the conditions of the deal. Those conditions included having no contact with his wife, undergoing a mental health evaluation and committing no additional crimes in the year following his plea.
Charges including domestic violence assault, domestic violence terrorizing and obstructing report of a crime were dismissed on Thursday after McLean paid his fine, completing the last of his obligations.
McLean's attorney, Walter McKee, addressed the resolution in a statement Thursday, saying, "Today the Knox County Court dismissed the domestic violence assault charge against singer-songwriter Don McLean. This charge was the heart of the charges brought against the singer last year. In short, Mr. McLean, contrary to media reports, did not assault -- and all that implies -- anyone at any time."
McLean's wife filed for divorce from the singer in March of 2016, citing "adultery, cruel and abusive treatment, and irreconcilable differences." She alleged years and years of physical and mental abuse at the hands of the singer.
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