HOULTON, Maine — A Houlton town councilor has been arrested and charged with domestic violence assault, according to police.
Houlton Police Department Acting Chief Daniel Pelletier confirmed Friday that John White Jr., 40, of Houlton was taken into custody on the charge.
Pelletier, however, would not release any details about the alleged incident that led to the charge. He said the case was in the hands of the district attorney’s office. No one in that office could be reached late Friday afternoon.
According to Houlton Town Manager Butch Asselin, White will not have to resign from the council.
“Where the offense is a misdemeanor, John will not have to resign his seat on the council,” Asselin said. “John has three meetings left. He can choose to attend one, none or all of them if he wishes. Everyone also needs to remember that an arrest doesn’t necessarily mean a conviction.”
The town’s charter spells out the stipulations for a councilor to forfeit their office. Those criteria are as follows, “A council member shall forfeit his office if he/she lacks at any time during his term of office any qualifications for the office prescribed by this charter or by law; violates any express prohibition of this charter; is convicted of a crime or offense which is reasonably related to his ability to serve as council member, or fails to attend three consecutive regular council meetings without being excused by the chairman.”
White was first elected to the council in 2010 and won re-election to the three-year seat in 2013. His seat is up for election again this year, but he is ineligible to run because of municipal term limits.
Pelletier did indicate that White made bail on the charge and was released. White did not respond to a request for comment Friday.
