Don McLean facing domestic violence charge

Charges of domestic violence can impact people of all ages, income levels and walks of life. Earlier this month, Don McLean, the singer/songwriter best known for the iconic hit “American Pie,” was arrested on Jan. 18 for assault.

Although the name of the alleged victim wasn’t released, it’s believed to be his wife Patrisha, who is a successful children’s photographer. The couple and their two children live on a 300-acre estate near Camden, Maine. That’s where he was arrested following a 911 call.

The 70-year-old McLean was released just hours after the early-morning arrest on $10,000 bail. However, one of the conditions of his bail is that he can’t have any direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim. She’s also reportedly gotten a temporary restraining order against her husband. He is scheduled to be arraigned in February on the misdemeanor charge.

Following his arrest, the singer reached out to his fans via social media to assert, “I am not a villain” and to ask “not to be judged in this frantic media environment.” He wrote in a six-part Twitter post about the “very painful breakdown of an almost 30 year relationship.” No other details were reported about the nature of the couple’s problems.

McLean still performs on occasion. His handwritten lyric sheet to his 8-plus minute classic song sold at auction last year for $1.2 million. He told his fans that despite these recent problems, he hopes “to continue to entertain you all as I always have.”

A domestic violence charge can have a significant impact on a person’s career and reputation, even if he or she isn’t a world-famous celebrity. Of course, that’s above and beyond the potential legal ramifications. That’s why it’s essential to have sound legal guidance from an experienced Kentucky criminal defense attorney.

Source: CNN, “‘American Pie’ singer on domestic violence arrest: ‘I am not a villain’,” Brandon Griggs, Jan. 21, 2016