Smith v. Hawthorne

[¶ 1] Wayne Hawthorne appeals from the entry of a protection from abuse order entered against him in the District Court (Newport, Murray, J.). His appeal presents several questions regarding Maine’s protection from abuse statute, 19-A M.R.S.A. §§ 4001^014 (1998 & Supp. 2001), including whether a defendant can be found to have committed “abuse” by “attempting to place or placing another in fear of bodily injury,” id. § 4002(1)(B), when the defendant did not verbally threaten or commit acts of violence against the victim. We answer this question in the affirmative and, finding no error, affirm…