An argument on social media between couples turned into a physical altercation that ended with a pregnant woman getting stabbed.
While the charges being levied against the defendant are steep – and would likely have been more severe if the incident happened outside of Maine – they are not going to be domestic violence offenses because the alleged victim and assailant are not related closely enough to each other.
Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled criminal defense & OUI lawyers, serving Southern Maine, today.
Pregnant Woman Stabbed During Dispute in Maine
Based on the initial reports, the incident all happened over the course of several hours on June 23, 2019, in Parsonsfield, Maine.
Two couples – one couple was married, the other couple was engaged to be married – got into an argument on social media. Threats were made in the arguments and they all decided to meet in person at a local store. There, the arguments continued and eventually turned into a physical fight between the two men.
Apparently, when the fiancée of one of the men intervened, the pregnant wife of the other man started to fight with her. As the fiancée and the pregnant wife tussled, the fiancée pulled out a knife and stabbed the pregnant woman in the abdomen.
The pregnant woman was rushed to the hospital, and her condition is unknown.
The fiancée was arrested and charged with elevated aggravated assault. Her next court date is in mid-October.
Fetal Homicide Laws in Maine
Murders, or homicides, are defined as intentional killings “of another human being.”
Fetal homicide laws are statutes that explicitly extend the meaning of “another human being” to include an unborn fetus.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, there are 38 states that have enacted fetal homicide laws.
While Maine is not one of those states, it does have another offense – elevated aggravated assault on a pregnant person under 17-A Maine Statute § 208-C. This statute makes knowingly causing a pregnant person “serious bodily injury” a Class A crime. Such a “serious bodily injury” includes – but is not necessarily limited to – injuries that result in the termination of the pregnancy.
Domestic violence and family or household members
While it seems relatively trivial when compared to the allegation of elevated aggravated assault on a pregnant person, the situation also illustrates just where Maine’s domestic violence laws begin and where they end.
Crimes only become charged as domestic violence crimes if they are alleged to have been committed against “family or household members” under 19-A Maine Statute § 4002(4):
- Parents of the same child
- People who are or who were sexual partners
- Spouses or domestic partners, or former spouses or former domestic partners
- People who currently or formerly lived together
- Children living with the defendant
- Adult blood relatives.
While the altercation here had the appearance of a domestic violence situation, none of these relationships seem to exist. As a result, any ensuing charge would not be deemed one of domestic violence and would not have any of the numerous collateral consequences of a domestic violence conviction on the table.
Call our domestic violence defense lawyers today
Our Portland Maine criminal defense lawyers represent people who have been accused of domestic violence throughout Maine, including Portland, Saco, Kennebunk, Brunswick, and Biddeford. Contact The Maine Criminal Defense Group online or call us at (207) 571-8146.
Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled criminal defense & OUI lawyers, serving Southern Maine, today.
Blog Articles
A domestic violence conviction can have serious consequences in Maine Assault, criminal threatening, and reckless conduct in domestic settings can all be classed as domestic violence in Maine—and criminal charges[...]
Defending those accused of domestic violence in Southern Maine Assault, criminal threatening, and reckless conduct in domestic settings can all be classed as domestic violence in Maine—and criminal charges can[...]
Sexual assault and sexual battery both refer to criminal offenses where a victim does not provide consent to sexual contact. This contact may or may not involve penetration, force, violence,[...]
The domestic violence and stalking laws in Maine are currently being updated to address some shortcomings in the previous laws and to add clarity for both victims and accused parties[...]
In recent years, convictions for domestic violence offenses in Maine have increased as state prosecutors rigorously pursue cases. This has led to harsher penalties for offenders, which makes it even[...]
Crimes of domestic violence in the state of Maine can be confusing. This is because crimes of domestic violence are really just other crimes, like assault or battery, when those[...]
A protection from abuse order (PFA) can make it illegal for an individual to contact you or your children in the state of Maine. Filing a PFA is often a[...]
Protection from Abuse Orders (PFAs), such as restraining orders and no-contact orders, are frequently issued by the courts in domestic violence cases in Maine but are often confused. No contact[...]
This article was updated March 6, 2025 Oftentimes what I see in these domestic violence situations is that a husband and wife get in a fight. They love each other[...]
Domestic violence cases can be some of the most challenging to deal with for everyone involved. Families with children can be thrown into turmoil with emotions running high. Many people[...]