May 14, 2014 — A Knox County jury deliberated for 20 minutes Wednesday morning before finding a Cushing lobsterman not guilty of criminally threatening two men in another boat.
Outside the courtroom after the verdict, Gary Jones, 52, who faced up to five years in prison on the felony charge, called the Department of Marine Resources corrupt and said changes in the agency were needed. He did not elaborate or offer further comment.
But during his testimony Tuesday, Jones said he has had to deal with harassment and threats from Yeaton family members for 15 years and claimed the state has not done anything to help.
“For 15 years this has happened and they have said there is nothing they can do,” Jones said.
Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Baroody said in his closing argument Wednesday that Jones was a very hot-headed person who had no faith in law enforcement.
“He was ready to take the law into his own hands,” Baroody said, by bringing a 12-gauge shotgun out to a verbal dispute on the waters off Cushing on Oct. 10, 2012.
Jones was accused of threatening Jeremy Yeaton and Justin Brazier with the shotgun and firing two shots.
Read the full story at the Bangor Daily News