December 23, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Write-in candidate pleads not guilty> Ex-House member faces charges from parties

BANGOR – Former state Rep. Ralph I. Coffman pleaded not guilty last week to a series of charges stemming from parties held at his Old Town apartment complex while he was campaigning for a spot on the Old Town City Council.

Coffman’s attorney, N. Laurence Willey of Bangor, entered the pleas in writing last week to the 3rd District Court in Bangor. Coffman pleaded not guilty to two counts of disorderly conduct and one count each of refusing to submit to arrest and violating his bail conditions.

Coffman first was summoned for disorderly conduct Oct. 20 during a party at the Riverplex apartment complex on Spring Street, which he owns.

Another party a week later resulted in another disorderly conduct charge and a charge of refusing to submit to arrest.

After that arrest, Coffman was released on bail on the condition that he stay away from the apartment complex. A few days after the arrest, police allegedly spotted Coffman on the premises and arrested him for violating his bail conditions.

He spent the weekend in the Penobscot County Jail before being released the following Monday.

Since then, his bail conditions have been amended to allow him on the premises of the Riverplex complex to perform landlord-related duties.

Last week, Coffman pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The case has been set ahead for trial, but a date has not yet been set.

Coffman lost his write-in bid for the City Council.


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