PORTLAND, Maine — A local transient with ties to Aroostook County accused of spitting in the face of a postal clerk last year has pleaded guilty to assault on a federal employee.
Derek P. Dow, 27, pleaded guilty Monday after U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen found him competent to enter a plea to the charge. He was released Thursday on $5,000 unsecured bond with the condition that he live with his mother in Presque Isle, according to court documents.
Dow had been held without bail since his arrest Dec. 20 in connection the incident at the post office on Forest Avenue in Portland 10 days earlier. In February, Torresen ordered that Dow undergo a psychiatric evaluation and treatment at government expense.
By pleading guilty, Dow admitted to spitting on a postal clerk, “hitting him on his right ear, the base of his neck and the left side of his face,” according to the prosecution version of events to which he pleaded guilty. Dow became angry on Saturday, Dec. 10, when the clerk told him that he could not pick up his mail until the next Monday, Dec. 12. Dow’s mail had been put on hold until Sunday, Dec. 11, according to the complaint. The incident was captured on video.
During a Dec. 12 interview with a postal inspector, the defendant admitted spitting in the clerk’s face, according to the complaint. Dow said that “the government, the Portland police department and the post office were all part of a conspiracy against him and the Micmac Tribe of Native Americans,” the complaint said.
Dow faces up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 22 in federal court in Portland.
Obviously not this guys finest moment but he has sat in jail 8 months already on the taxpayers dime.
Not only that – the man had put his own mail on hold and the postal worker tells him he can not pick up his mail because of it.
If the postal worker wanted it to be “proper” then he should have handed the guy a slip of paper to fill out to take the hold off his mail.
Some postal workers really need to learn what customer service is all about.
Does this excuse this guys temper tantrum – no – but it makes me sure understand it.
Well put.
Oh dry up with your defense of the ignorant.
I wasn’t aware I was defending you……
I’d like to know what the difference is between assaulting a federal employee and assaulting anyone else is (?).
Interesting question!
the fed employees are protected by law, we aren’t
Spitting in someone’s face is still a crime, assualt, it’s just a more expensive crime if it’s a fed.
As if this guy could ever pay a fine!