FARMINGTON — A Rumford-based lawyer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence terrorizing Friday in Franklin County Superior Court as part of a plea agreement.

Ronald E. Hoffman, 54, of Sumner was arrested Feb. 7 after he told two people at Rumford District Court of his intention to kill a family member. Those two feared Hoffman “could actually commit” the crime because of his history, court records said.

Hoffman initially pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Sentencing was deferred Friday for one year, providing Hoffman complies with a court agreement that he not use of drugs, alcohol or firearms, that he submit to random searches and have no contact with some family members without written permission.

The agreement also included his resignation from the Maine State Bar, Somerset District Attorney Maeghan Maloney said after court Friday.

A court accepted Hoffman’s resignation from the bar in April; it becomes effective May 19.

At the time of his arrest in February, Hoffman was on administrative release, convicted on two charges of terrorizing for phoning in bomb threats to elementary schools in Wilton in March 2012. He pleaded no contest and took responsibility for making the calls when he appeared before Justice Nancy Mills in September 2012.

A 364-day sentence on each charge was suspended and he was placed on administrative release for one year for each charge on the condition that he not commit any criminal acts.

Administrative release is similar to probation, with Hoffman monitored by the Somerset County District Attorney instead of a probation officer.

Justice Mills extended the administrative release Friday, Maloney said.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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