Harrison Thorp 10:32 a.m.
Tuesday, January 16, 2018 10:34 am
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ROCHESTER - A Maine man who fired a gun during an altercation outside the Rochester American Legion in September escaped any jail time in a plea deal reached last week in Strafford County Superior Court.
Robert C. Talbot, 50, of 380 Lower Guinea Road, pleaded guilty on Thursday to a single count of misdemeanor reckless conduct and was sentenced to six months in jail with all of it suspended for one year.
As part of the deal Talbot will have to complete a gun safety course, be on good behavior and have no contact with the victim, said Assistant County Attorney Kathryn Smykowski, who prosecuted the case.
The fight occurred inside the club's social quarters a little before 11 p.m. on Sept. 27 and moved outside, where a female also became involved.
At some point, Talbot shot a round into the ground with his Smith & Wesson 9 mm, police said.
The only reported injury was to the unidentified female who was taken to Frisbie Memorial Hospital for treatment of a possible head injury.
After an investigation that lasted about a week and a half an arrest warrant was executed and Talbot immediately turned himself in to Rochester Police on Oct. 6.
He was originally charged with one count of felony reckless conduct, which is punishable by three and a half to seven years in state prison.
Smykowski said the victim whom Talbot had the altercation with was OK with the deal.
"We looked at the facts of the case and determined a proper resolution," she said.