ROCKLAND —  A Vinalhaven man pleaded guilty to two charges of domestic violence assault and one charge of domestic violence criminal threatening Oct. 12 in Knox County Unified Court. Another charge of aggravated assault was dismissed.

Jeremy Vandyne, 44, was arrested July 21 by Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Hills and charged with three counts of domestic violence and aggravated assault. 

After pleading guilty to the charges, Vandyne was placed on a deferred disposition for one year.

The conditions of the deferred disposition include evaluations for substance abuse, mental health, anger management and domestic abuse counseling. Additionally, Vandyne may not possess or use illegal drugs, dangerous weapons and not consume alcohol in an excessive amount (.08 or higher) and will be randomly tested, according to the court document.

If all of the conditions of the deferred disposition are successfully met for the next 12 months, the domestic violence criminal threatening charge would be dropped and the two charges of domestic violence assaults would be reduced to two counts of simple assault. Vandyne’s sentence after a year of adhering to the conditions would include 364 days in jail, all suspended, two $500 fines and one year of probation.

If Vandyne fails to meet the terms of the deferred disposition, he could face an open plea to domestic violence criminal threatening and two counts of domestic assault with a sentence of 364 days in jail.

Hills responded to a domestic complaint on the island just before midnight July 21, after a complainant reported being approached on foot by a juvenile seeking help. According to Chief Deputy Tim Carroll in a news release, the complainant was walking home when the juvenile approached her, asking for help as Vandyne and a woman were fighting.

The juvenile allegedly told the complainant that Vandyne, 44, had tried to choke him as well, according to Carroll.

Vandyne later denied any type of choke hold, according to the court document.

Deputy Hills arrived at the residence and spoke with the woman regarding the complaint. Vandyne was not at the residence at the time, but showed up a short time later. The victim stated that she had been thrown down twice onto the floor and threatened to have her "head bashed in."

The police report noted that Vandyne and the woman smelled of alcohol.

Vandyne reportedly received a cut on his hand and face by a knife that was involved in the altercation with the two victims. The juvenile grabbed a kitchen knife to protect himself because he felt threatened, according to the court document.

There was blood on the walls and doors of the house, according to the police report.

Hills arrested Vandyne and in addition to the three domestic violence charges of assault and criminal threatening, Class D, charged him with aggravated assault, a Class B felony. Vandyne was transported off the island to Knox County Jail in Rockland with the assistance of the Maine Marine Patrol.

Vandyne remained in custody until his initial court appearance July 22 before Judge Susan Sparaco. He posted his $2,500 cash bail and was later released from jail.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com