FARMINGTON — A Franklin County justice accepted a sentencing agreement on Friday that allows a New Vineyard man to enter into an 18-month deferred disposition on a reckless conduct charge.

Douglas E. Marble, 33, was arrested in April 2011 on several charges. Maine State Police said he followed a vehicle that had an ex-girlfriend and a friend of hers in it and hit the woman’s car. He was then accused of assaulting a man who was with her. The victim’s car had stopped at a gate and he was unlocking it when Marble’s Jeep pulled up behind it.

If Marble fulfills the agreement, he will be allowed to withdraw a no-contest plea to the reckless conduct charge.

Marble, a town of Kingfield administrative assistant, had entered no-contest pleas in October 2011 to a reckless conduct charge and assault. The court considers a no-contest plea a guilty plea. The no-contest plea means, “I do not admit it but will not contest it,” according to a Glossary of Maine Legal Terms. The guilty plea cannot be used against a person in a civil lawsuit.

In a plea agreement, the state dismissed charges of domestic violence stalking, violating a protective order and criminal trespassing initially lodged in the case.

Marble had maintained from day one that when he realized who was in the vehicle in front of him, he backed out and left.

Marble was fined $400 on the assault charge.

Sanders said Marble maintains that he did nothing wrong and the male victim had reached inside his Jeep and assaulted him.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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