Don McLean Takes Plea Deal in Domestic Violence Case
Don McLean has pleaded guilty to a number of domestic violence charges stemming from an incident that occurred in mid-January.
According to People, the "American Pie" singer has accepted a plea deal for misdemeanor counts of domestic violence assault, domestic violence criminal threatening, criminal mischief and criminal restraint. He has been ordered to pay $3,000 in fines, avoid contact with his now-ex-wife, Patrisha McLean, for the next year and complete a mental health evaluation within 60 days. The singer's attorney, Walter McKee, tells the magazine that the charges will be dismissed if he complies with the court's orders.
"Don has been adamant since day one that he did not do what his now-ex-wife said he did," McKee says in a statement. "But in the end, he decided it was better to just resolve the case now and be done with it by entering pleas with zero jail, zero probation and only fines."
On Jan. 18, police were called to the McLeans’ Camden, Maine, home at around 2AM. Don McLean was charged with a domestic violence misdemeanor and spent a few hours in Knox County Jail before posting $10,000 bail and being released around 11:30AM. He was later charged with additional counts of criminal threatening, terrorizing, criminal restraint, obstruction and criminal mischief, and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
On Jan. 21, the artist released a statement explaining, in part, that “[w]hat is occurring is the very painful breakdown of an almost 30 year relationship … There are no winners or losers, but I am not a villain …” According to a second statement, posted to Don McLean’s official website a few days later, “[n]either party [was] seeking a divorce,” and the couple was looking to “move forward and rebuild their lives;" however, in early March, Patrisha McLean filed for divorce.
After releasing his debut album, Tapestry, in 1970, Don McLean scored the biggest hit of his career with “American Pie” one year later. In 1980, he earned a Top 10 hit on the country charts with “Crying,” originally recorded by Roy Orbison, from his Chain Lightning album; he also covered Hank Williams‘ “Your Cheatin’ Heart” on Chain Lightning. McLean and his wife had been married since 1987 and have two children.
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