BANGOR (AP) – A state legislator from Winterport apologized for his actions last week when he was arrested for operating under the influence, and said he will plead guilty to the charge.

Reading from a statement at a news conference with his lawyer on Tuesday, Republican Rep. Jeffrey Kaelin said he regrets Friday night’s incident and apologized “to my family, my friends, my colleagues and my constituents whom I have disappointed with my serious lack of judgment.”

The two-term lawmaker, who is seeking re-election in November, said he will plead guilty to the OUI charge when he appears in Bangor District Court on July 20.

Police said Kaelin’s blood-alcohol level was 0.13 percent, which exceeds the legal limit of 0.08 percent, when his pickup truck sideswiped another vehicle in the parking lot of the Sea Dog Brewing Co. in Bangor.

Police said that after the incident, Kaelin sought to minimize his alleged offense by telling officers, “This is nothing,” and suggesting to them that they should be focusing on other things.

On Tuesday, Kaelin publicly apologized to Jason Stuart, the officer who made the arrest, saying he “was doing his job and did so admirably.”

“In retrospect I was not fine and should not have operated my vehicle. To my great fortune nobody was hurt,” Kaelin said.

But he also denied trying to use his influence as a legislator to get special treatment.

“I don’t believe I ever said to him, I’m a legislator,”‘ Kaelin said. “I had my legislative plates on my vehicle and the gentleman knew at the time that I was a legislator. I never asked him for special privileges.”

Kaelin’s attorney, Jeffrey Silverstein, said he expects Kaelin, a first-time offender, to be ordered to pay a fine and perform community service. His driver’s license would be suspended for 90 days.