FARMINGTON – A jury of five men and seven women took two hours to find a Strong man not guilty of assault and terrorizing charges on Wednesday in Franklin County Superior Court.

Gerald “Mike” Pond, 53, was arrested in January 2007 on domestic crime charges after an incident involving his former wife.

Pond, chairman of SAD 58’s board of directors, said he was relieved after the verdict was read. Pond asserted his innocence earlier this month when he chose to take the case to trial.

“It’s been a horrible year-and-a-half-long battle,” Pond said.

Pond’s family embraced him and his ex-wife and her friends left the courtroom after Justice Michaela Murphy dismissed the charges.

The breakdown of a nearly 34-year marriage found the couple arguing over terms of their divorce at their place of business on Wilton Road in January 2007, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson told the court in his opening statement.

As the argument escalated, Pond reportedly grabbed his ex-wife and pushed her against a wall before dragging her to the door and threatening her, he said. Once outside, she went to her car and called police.

Pond’s attorney, Donald Brown of Bangor, told the court Pond was at work when his ex-wife stopped by to tell him what she wanted in the divorce and what was going to happen if he didn’t give her what she wanted.

Pond testified that he asked the woman to leave at least four times, and during the incident she hit, kicked and threatened him, but he did not call police to remove her because he did not want to get her in trouble.

In closing, Robinson told the court that cases of domestic violence are about human beings with complex natures but there are still boundaries set by law. Arguments are allowed but bodily injury to another person or looks and words that make a person believe their lives are in danger are not.

Brown, in turn, asked the jury to consider the credibility of Pond and his ex-wife, suggesting an ulterior motive of a lawsuit against Pond.

After his release, Pond, who has served on the SAD 58 school board for 18 years, said he plans to remain on the board.

“It’s a sad thing between two good people who were married over 30 years,” District Superintendent Quenten Clark said outside the courtroom before the verdict was read.