ROCKLAND —  Singer-songwriter Don McLean pleaded guilty July 21 to domestic violence charges originating from an assault on a woman at his Camden residence in January.

McLean appeared before Justice William Stokes in Knox County Unified Court and pleaded guilty to domestic violence assault, domestic violence criminal threatening, criminal restraint, and criminal mischief as part of a deferred disposition agreement.

The additional charges of domestic violence terrorizing and obstructing the report of a crime were dismissed.

The deferred disposition agreement stipulates that if McLean complies with its terms for the following year, the domestic violence assault charge will be dismissed and the fine on the three remaining counts will be $1,000 each.

The specifics of the agreement include that McLean cannot commit any additional crimes at the federal, state or local level during the next year, must complete an evaluation and treatment as recommended for mental health, anger management, and domestic abuse within sixty days, cannot have any contact, either direct or indirect, with the victim, and pay an administrative fee of $10 per month.

If McLean does not comply with the agreement, he could face an open plea on all four counts including the domestic violence assault charge, according to the court documents.

On Jan. 19, a Rockland District Court judge had issued a temporary Protection from Abuse Order to the alleged victim in the domestic abuse case.

According to the court document filed, and her handwritten statement about the incident and past abusive incidents, the woman said that McLean "terrorized" her for four hours on Jan. 17, until she saw an opportunity to flee off a bed, grab her cell phone and run into the bathroom "just clicking the lock shut in time."

She wrote that McLean tried to break down the bathroom door and had he succeeded, she said she felt he would have killed her. She said his attempts to come through the door ceased when she told him she was calling 911, but he still stood just outside the door until the call was made.

Camden police arrested McLean, 70, at his residence early Monday morning, Jan. 18. Police responded to a 911 call from the home shortly before 2 a.m. and following an investigation, charged McLean with one count of domestic violence assault. McLean was taken to Knox County Jail in Rockland, where he posted $10,000 unsecured bail and was released.

Related link:

• Camden police arrest singer-songwriter Don McLean for domestic violence

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 207-706-6655 and Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com.