Matthew Collett was sentenced by Aroostook County Superior Court Justice E. Allen Hunter to the 15-month term for a felony charge of domestic violence assault.
Collett also pleaded guilty to one charge of violating a protection order and two counts of violating conditions of release. Hunter sentenced him to six month sentences on each charge, with the time to be served concurrently.
The domestic violence incident occurred on March 9, 2015, when Collett and the victim were driving down the road and began arguing in the car, according to Assistant District Attorney Kurt Kafferlin. The prosecutor said the vehicle was going about 45 mph when Collett began assaulting the woman. He continued striking her after they arrived home, Kafferlin said.
A witness heard Collett break the woman’s phone and threaten to slit the tires on her car, according to the prosecutor.
After Collett was arrested, the woman obtained a protection order from the court preventing him from having any contact with her. He violated that order by sending her a letter from jail and spent about four months incarcerated before being released on bail to await trial on the assault charge.
On Jan. 12, Houlton police Officer William Janakis stopped a vehicle for speeding and found Collett and the woman inside together. Since Collett was still out on bail and not allowed to have contact with the woman, he again was charged with violation of conditions of release.
Collett was represented by Houlton attorney Jeff Pickering.
Collett will be given credit for the four months he already has served.
