Keith Maynard was a respectable man. He was a hard worker, an active member of his community.
But then one day in July 2009, Maynard hid in his home, disguised himself and “brutally beat” his then-fiancee Ida Marie. The two were married four days later.
Friends, family and a Superior Court judge Monday could only describe the change in one way.
“You snapped,” Judge Burton Kaplan said during Maynard’s sentencing at Superior Court in Derby.
Kaplan sentenced Maynard to eight years, suspended after he serves 33 months in prison. He will have four years of probation after that. And the judge ordered Maynard stay away from Ida and her family for 40 years.
“You had great promise, sir,” Kaplan said. “You had a great career and you let a lot of people down.”
The Two Maynards
Kaplan called his sentence “a balancing act.”
On the one side, Maynard has a history of civic service as a former alderman in Ansonia. He volunteered as a coach. He was a supervisor with the state Department of Transportation. Maynard had a clean record, with no history of violence.
But then there’s the Maynard that appeared after the assault.
The Maynard who violated a protective order — at least twice — by trying to contact Ida. The Maynard who violated the terms of his release by leaving the state without checking in with the bail commissioner first.
The Maynard who acted like he was above the law.
“The court issued orders, and you violated the orders,” Kaplan said. “That was a voluntary decision.”
Maynard’s friends and family, who spoke on his behalf Monday, also described two different Maynards.
His mother, Geraldine Maynard, said Maynard was “always lovable, always respectable.” She said he was a hard worker, who was dedicated to his family.
“All these charges and things that have been read, and said about him, that is not my son,” Geraldine Maynard said. “I don’t know what went wrong, but something went wrong.”
Abuse?
Maynard spoke publicly about the attack for the first time Monday.
He referenced an abusive relationship — but portrayed himself as the victim.
Maynard said he was verbally abused and said the night before the attack Ida smacked him on the face because he came home late.
“Something came over me,” Maynard said, explaining his reasoning for the attack. “I don’t know what it is. A lot of stuff over the years.”
Ida’s sister, Jennifer Lucarelli, said outside of court that Maynard’s accusation about being verbally abused and slapped is “completely baseless.”
Ida, during her comments to the court, described the attack — saying Maynard hit her several times, and tried to choke her with a blanket stuffed into her mouth. Click here to read a past article with more details about the attack.
“I believed I struggled and survived the vicious attack so that I could marry the man I loved — Keith Maynard,” Ida said, through tears.
Though she has since filed for divorce, Ida identified herself as Ida Marie Maynard.
“I believed that he loved me. I believed he would forever protect me and our future together,” Ida said.
While his family and friends described him as a good person, Ida had different thoughts.
“Keith Maynard can only be described as a coward and a selfish individual,” Ida said. “He lacks any sense of responsibility or remorse.”
Ida said Maynard has never apologized or explained why he attacked her that day.
‘I’m Sorry’
Maynard Monday offered an apology in court.
“First I’d like to apologize to Mr. and Mrs. Lucarelli (Ida’s parents),” Maynard said. “Ida, I’m sorry. I accept full responsibility for what has happened. To my family and friends, I’m sorry.”
Maynard said he was remorseful — despite Ida’s statements that he has shown no remorse since the attack.
“People show remorse in several different ways,” Maynard said.
About the attack, he said: “I know I did wrong. If I could take it back, I would take it all back.”
But he can’t. And facing up to three years in prison, Maynard said he has been “practicing my religion” and preparing.
“Spiritually, I’m prepared. Mentally, I’m prepared,” Maynard said. “I’m ready to do this.”
‘World of Isolation’
Ida, in her statement, said she hopes jail will show Maynard how she has felt since the attack.
“Perhaps incarceration will introduce Keith Maynard to a world of isolation that I struggle with each and every day of my life,” Ida said. “He deserves to know what it feels like to be confined somewhere where you cannot easily escape. He deserves to be sad and paranoid and insecure.”
Sentence
The sentence of eight years suspended after 33 months served is for the charge of second-degree assault in the attack and for violating the protective order.
Under the plea agreement charges of first-degree unlawful restraint and first-degree reckless endangerment were nolled — which means the state won’t prosecute.
Judge Kaplan imposed several conditions to the sentence.
Maynard must undergo a mental health evaluation. He will be prohibited from owning weapons. He must submit to DNA testing.
