PORTLAND – The Democratic activist who was nearly shot by police during a Halloween stunt in which he wore an Osama bin Laden costume replete with a toy assault rifle issued a public apology Monday as part of a plea agreement.

Tom Connolly said he never intended to scare anyone during the process of making a political statement about the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

“I now understand how my costume, coupled with my possession of what appeared to be a rifle, created a dangerous situation…,” he wrote. “I immediately apologized to the officer at the time. I sincerely repeat that apology here, and to all those who have been affected.”

In addition to the apology, Connolly will donate $500 to a local toy fund and perform at least 30 hours of public service to raise awareness of the dangers of toy guns.

If he completes those requirements in 90 days, the state will drop misdemeanor charges of criminal threatening, terrorizing and reckless conduct against him.

During the incident, police responded to calls from motorists on Interstate 295 about a man on an overpass wearing a white robe and carrying a gun. The costume included plastic dynamite and grenades, in addition to the plastic assault rifle.

South Portland police officers who responded didn’t know whether or not the gun was real, and one of them “was a fraction of a second away from firing his weapon,” District Attorney Stephanie Anderson said.

Anderson insisted that Connolly didn’t get off lightly and that he understands the error of his ways. “I think he really gets it,” she told reporters. “He could have left his four children without a father.”

Connolly’s lawyer, Daniel Knight, described the plea agreement as “creative, constructive and meaningful.” South Portland Police Chief Ed Googins said he, too, was satisfied with the resolution of the case.

Justice Roland Cole, who accepted the unorthodox plea agreement, said Connolly’s political demonstration “was not well thought out.” But he said he understood that Connolly didn’t intend to create a dangerous situation.

Connolly is no stranger to controversy. The Democratic nominee for governor in 1998 made headlines when he divulged President Bush’s 24-year-old drunken-driving arrest in Kennebunkport days before the 2000 election.

After Monday’s brief hearing, Connolly appeared outside the courthouse wearing his trademark long-billed fishing cap.

He insisted that he’ll try to raise awareness about the danger of toy guns. He said his research shows that 100 people are killed each year because toy guns are mistaken by the real thing by police officers.

But he also indicated he won’t sit still when it comes to expressing his First Amendment rights. He’ll just be more careful next time.

“As soon as I’m out of the penalty box … I’ll be forechecking again,” he said, using hockey term that refers to a player applying a hit to an opponent.