Photo credit: Maine Courts Website
By Kendra Williams
Maine State Rep. Lucas Lanigan pleaded not guilty in York County Superior Court in Biddeford on Wednesday, March 5, during an arraignment on domestic violence criminal charges. He was indicted by the York County Grand Jury on Jan. 8 and charged with one count of domestic violence aggravated assault Class B and a second count of domestic violence assault Class D.
After reading the charges and potential sentences for each charge if found guilty, the judge asked Lanigan if he had an attorney. Lanigan responded that he’s representing himself “for the foreseeable future” because he’s currently unemployed and is focusing on his position as a lawmaker. The judge encouraged him to obtain an attorney.
Lanigan also asked the judge to change his bail conditions and said he plans to file a motion to be allowed to return home, where he has not been allowed for the past four months. According to Lanigan, he did not accept a plea deal offered by prosecutors as he found the terms unacceptable and expects a dismissal. Without a plea deal, the case will go to trial.
On Oct. 25, 2024, Sanford Police Officer Jeremy Riddle responded to a complaint of physical violence by choking and strangulation perpetrated by Lanigan on his wife. After investigating, an affidavit and request for an arrest warrant were issued based on what was learned.
Police were unable to find Lanigan for a few days, until he turned himself in to the York County Jail on Oct. 28. He was not allowed to post bail until a hearing.
At the hearing on Oct. 30, he was released on $3,000 bail and a court date was set for this week. At that hearing, Lanigan’s wife recanted statements she’d made to the police, which the judge at that hearing noted was not uncommon for victims of domestic violence. The case continued to move forward for prosecution by the state.
Less than a week later. in the Nov. 5 election, Lanigan, a Republican, and his Democratic challenger, Patricia Kidder, tied for the House District 141 race with 2,476 votes each. District 141 is comprised of Shapleigh, Newfield and parts of Sanford-Springvale. In a recount on Nov. 21, Lanigan was declared the winner by one vote. He has been serving his second term in the Maine House since January.
After the indictment in January, the House of Representatives voted to refer Lanigan’s case to the Ethics Committee to investigate whether he violated the House’s code of conduct. The committee has not yet met to consider the matter.
The post Lanigan Enters Not Guilty Plea appeared first on Sanford Springvale News.
