Domestic violence victims - how they feel about police

Here's a Bangor Daily News story about Victim Servicea in Maine and how only half of the funds have been approved that are needed to help them, and other victims of crime. And, from the story:

A recent survey of callers to the National Domestic Violence Hotline found that 39 percent of those who also called police actually felt less safe after calling them; 40 percent said they believed it made no difference.

Office of Professional Standards (OPS) - Maine

📞On Thursday I received a phone call from Officer Christopher Tupper of the Office of Professional Standards regarding my complaint against Corporal Ted Martin. He asked if I had a lawyer. I said "Not yet." I told him I had audio and video footage of Martin's wrongful arrests of me on July 10, and another woman in Saint Agatha on July 11. He wanted me to send him this evidence. I told him "When you play poker, you don't show all your cards."

I have an appointment to speak with an attorney in Aroostook County on Thursday regarding the wrongful arrest and about Shane being sentenced without due process. The Pulitzer Center wrote about accountability of Maine law enforcement in 2019, and you can see that most officers only received temporary suspensions...in other words, unpaid vacations.

Maine House of Reps - seat won by man accused of domestic violence

If you ever thought that your vote didn't matter much, read this story at WGME.

Lucas Lanigan won re-election by one vote; and surprisingly it was right after he was charged with choking his wife! Prior to that, Patricia Kidder was ahead of him. The alleged abuse happened so near the election that it's very possible that voters didn't get a chance to swallow the news.

Another story at WGME says after posting a $3000 bail, Lanigan is not to have contact with his wife. In relationships, things can get complicated and frustrations can turn into violence if there isn't appropriate support or counseling. As it stands, even a phone call would be in violation of the order placed on Lanigan, even though his wife doesn't want him to be charged. 

But is completely cutting off ties always the best option? Sometimes it's the frustration of that disconnect that leads to violence. Despite whether or not there is reunification, when two people can't seem to come to a resolution of their problems, there should be some sort of intervention, mediation in an effort to keep both parties safe...processes that supplement or in some cases replace protection orders. 

The non-profit that organized the march in Sanford is Finding Our Voices. The founder is Patricia McLean, and she interviewed Randall Liberty of the Maine State Prison; his father was an abuser who was in and out of prison. To combat the problems of violence, there's a new state office, The Office of Injury and Violence Prevention, a part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Evidence exposed - Shane's case

Shane’s been incarcerated now since November 22 of 2022. He accepted a plea bargain for the shooting of Justin Steggall and was sentenced by Justice Stephen Nelson on 11-08-23 in Aroostook County Superior Court.

There is evidence Shane likely acted in self-defense; however the investigator who Attorney Verne Paradie hired, Hank Dusenbery, failed to go to Aroostook to question the men in the text message below which I received after Shane was arrested.

I was present during the sentencing, by Zoom; and I tried to notify Judge Nelson about the text message, but Shane's attorney had him mute me! Justin's own actions just days before the shooting should be considered comparative negligence.

Shane had reason to believe his life or that of others might be in danger. There are other mitigating factors which should be evaluated and the charges dropped or his sentence be much less.

I had sent Attorney Paradie the text between the men, and a link to Aroostook County indictments that I found online the following summer for charges against Justin for things he apparently did before the shooting.

https://thecounty.me/2023/06/12/news/grand-jury-hands-up-may-indictments/ 

Justin L. Steggall, 27, Limestone: aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation (three counts), eluding an officer, operating after revocation, criminal speed, driving to endanger and operating an unregistered vehicle.

Nelson presided over my case in Aroostook County, AROCD CR 2024 20209, regarding phony disorderly conduct charges. The arrest last summer was without a warrant or probable cause. On May 23, 2025 Nelson ordered me arrested during the eviction matter of Michael Morgan (AKA Goldilocks) in Fort Kent District Court. We've stopped looking for a new tenant/family and should started taking AirBnB bookings in about a week. We had one for mid October but they just cancelled; at least I know the process is working!

Follow my blog to get updates about mine and my son’s cases.

Letter to the Court, District Attorney, and Maine State Police

I sent a three-page letter to the court today, four if you include a copy of the threatening text message sent to me from our former tenant/roommate. 

I'm being charged with Disorderly Conduct, but no warning was even given to Kevin for what he did! 

In my letter I requested the judge lift the bail conditions keeping me from being at my property, dismiss the case, but if not dismissed I asked to appear by zoom. And I want the evidence against me...there is none, absolutely none! It was a wrongful arrest. 

If the District Attorney doesn't dismiss the charges, the presiding judge should file a complaint with the Board of Bar of Overseers against him, for malicious prosecution. Most oversights committees dismiss complaints they receive from ordinary people like you and I.

Oh, and I asked for an investigation of the police officer; I threw that in even though I know the judge won't address it. I didn't want to write a separate letter, so I simply added Lieutenant Brian Harris of Troop F to the cc at the end of the letter to the Superior Court, and sent a copy to him, in Houlton.