Don McLean’s Wife Dismisses Protection Order Following Assault Charge
Patrisha McLean has agreed to dismiss the protection order made against her husband, “American Pie” singer-songwriter Don McLean, following an alleged violent incident that took place January 17th resulting in the musician’s arrest. The couple do not plan to divorce, Taste of Country reports.
“I did not intend to define Don or our relationship based solely on the events recounted in the statement,” Patrisha wrote on the singer’s website. “Don has a big heart. He and I had many happy times in the 30 years of our marriage and what has recently transpired is unfortunate for all of us. I would ask everyone reading this to ignore the sensationalist, scabrous headlines and focus instead on the joy that Don, and his music, has given to so many for so long.”
The statement notes that “Patrisha and Don have made an agreement to move forward and rebuild their lives.”
The alleged domestic violence took place at the couple’s Maine home in the early morning of the 17th. In documents filed to the Rockland District Court, Patrisha McLean accused her husband of a “violent temper,” with verbal and physical abuse stretching back over three decades.
“For the first 10 years or so his rage was unfathomably deep and very scary,” she wrote in the protection order. “On January 17th, Don terrorized me for four hours until the 911 call that I think might have saved my life.”
McLean was arrested, charged with misdemeanor assault and bailed out, with the order to appear back in court on February 22nd. The musician did not enter a plea. Last Thursday, he issued a series of tweets promising fans he is “not a villain.”
“This last year and especially now have been hard, emotional times for my wife, my children and me. What is occurring is the very painful breakdown of an almost 30-year relationship,” he wrote. “Our hearts are broken and we must carry on. There are no winners or losers but I am not a villain. I may never recover from this but I will try and hope to continue to entertain you all as I always have. I ask God to give us the strength to find new happiness and I hope people will realize that this will all be resolved, but I hope I will not be judged in this frantic media environment.”