ROCKLAND – A prosecutor said Tuesday he would not bring criminal charges against a schooner captain in connection with an incident last summer involving a jet skier and a shot fired from an antique pistol.

District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau said Tuesday that Capt. Neal Parker, 46, of Rockland would not be charged in the July 25, 2001, dispute in Pulpit Harbor off North Haven.

The dispute occurred in the early evening of July 25, 2001, while guests aboard Parker’s 67-foot schooner Wendameen were preparing to eat dinner. The ship was at anchor when he noticed a jet skier, later identified as Ryan Marves of North Haven, enter the harbor.

Parker claimed that the jet skier was operating erratically and that Parker tried to wave to him to slow down. When Marves failed to do so, Parker asked a crew member to fetch an antique pistol. Parker said he fired a warning shot into the water to get Marves’ attention.

At the time, Marves said he thought he was being fired upon.

Rushlau said Tuesday that evidence is insufficient to prove any criminal offense.

“This decision to decline prosecution should not suggest approval or criticism of the actions of either of the participants in this event,” Rushlau said. “It simply demonstrates the high burden of proof that applies in any criminal prosecution.

“While it is clear that Neal Parker discharged the pistol during a verbal dispute with Ryan Marves, 21, of North Haven, there is no evidence the discharge expelled a projectile,” Rushlau said. “Thus, there was no actual endangerment of Ryan Marves. On all other important questions, the evidence is simply not clear. Criminal prosecution is not possible under these circumstances.”

Last month, a federal administrative law judge cleared Parker of an assault charge brought by the U.S. Coast Guard after Parker fired the black-powder pistol from aboard the schooner.

Parker was found not guilty of improper storage of black powder. He was found guilty, however, of carrying black powder without proper authorization.

The guilty finding for carrying black powder without written authorization from the Coast Guard commandant brought a penalty of a one-month suspension of his license “remitted on six months’ probation.” The order meant that the one-month license suspension was suspended pending satisfactory completion of probation.

The rulings by Administrative Law Judge Peter A. Fitzpatrick came nearly four months after a two-day hearing in Portland.

“The principal culprit in this incident is the jet ski operator …,” the law judge wrote in his order. “The evidence establishes that Captain Parker acted in self-defense.”

When asked Tuesday whether Marves would be charged, Rushlau said, “I did at least consider that.” The focus of the investigation by the Maine Marine Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard was on Parker, he said.

If he were asked to review the case further, Rushlau said, he would not charge Marves.

Marves could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

Parker said he learned Tuesday that he would not be charged by the state. “I’m hoping that will put an end to the legal bills,” he said, saying the incident had cost him about $15,000.