Ellsworth official gets nonjury trial City’s code enforcement officer faces assault charge in 2001 car ramming

ELLSWORTH – Ellsworth’s code enforcement officer, facing a charge of aggravated assault in connection with a 2001 car accident, has been granted a request for a nonjury trial.

John Dunn was in Hancock County Superior Court on Wednesday morning with one of his attorneys, Daniel Pileggi of Ellsworth, to ask Justice Andrew Mead that he be tried by a judge instead of a jury.

“Yes, I am,” Dunn said when Mead asked if he was the man charged with intentionally ramming his car into an oil-tanker truck on Route 1 in May 2001.

Dunn, 58, was delusional from medication he was taking for depression and cancer treatments when he drove his car into the truck, according to his attorneys. He was having an aberrational experience when he wrecked his car and told police at the scene that he was Jesus Christ and could not be injured in the accident, his attorneys have said.

Dunn’s wife was riding with him and received minor injuries in the accident. The driver of the oil truck was uninjured, according to police.

During Dunn’s brief court appearance, Mead granted his request after the defendant signed a waiver for his right to a jury trial.

Pileggi said Thursday that Dunn decided to have a nonjury trial for the sake of expediency.

“Personally, he wants to get this put behind him as quickly as possible,” Pileggi said. The attorney said he was disappointed that Dunn’s trial wasn’t scheduled for this week after another scheduled trial was delayed indefinitely.

Dunn’s guilt or innocence will be decided by a judge presiding in Hancock County Superior Court, Pileggi said. A date has not been set for the trial.

Dunn has continued with his duties as Ellsworth’s code enforcement officer despite the charge against him.