CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Bangor man cleared in 2009 stabbing, charged Monday with five felonies

Bangor Daily News - 3/13/2017

March 13--BANGOR, Maine -- A local man who was cleared of trying to kill his estranged wife and her boyfriend in 2009 is again behind bars accused of domestic violence related crimes, Bangor police Sgt. Wade Betters said Monday.

Ryan Witmer, 40, was charged with aggravated assault, domestic violence criminal threatening, domestic violence terrorizing, domestic violence reckless conduct and domestic violence assault, after a 1 a.m incident that involved some type of weapon, the sergeant said.

"All are felonies," Betters said of the charges.

A female caller reported that she had been in a verbal argument with Witmer that turned into a physical altercation, Detective Brent Beaulieu said in a Monday morning email.

The victim did not require medical attention, the detective said.

"He allegedly strangled her and held a large knife similar to a sword to her throat," Suzanne Russell, assistant district attorney, said in an email. "He threatened to kill her if she told anyone."

Responding law enforcement found Witmer hiding in a shed, located adjacent to the woman's house.

Witmer previously had been accused of attacking his estranged wife and stabbing her boyfriend in the back nearly a dozen times at her Orrington home on June 28, 2008. In November 2009, a jury of four men and eight women found Witmer, then 33, not guilty of aggravated attempted murder, elevated aggravated assault and aggravated assault and burglary.

Jurors did find him guilty of simple assault on his ex-wife and of violating a protection from abuse order.

Witmer's legal team argued during the 5 1/2-day trial in Penobscot County Superior Court that although he should not have been at the house because of the protection from abuse order, Witmer was defending himself when he stabbed his then-wife's boyfriend 11 times in the back.

Witmer is expected to make his initial court appearance at the Penobscot Judicial Center Monday afternoon.

BDN reporter Judy Harrison contributed to this story.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TRS 800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.

___

(c)2017 the Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine)

Visit the Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine) at www.bangordailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.