Keith Maynard, the former city alderman accused of attacking his fiancee days before their wedding, has applied for a diversionary program that could dismiss the charges if completed.
But the family of Ida Marie Lucarelli-Maynard plans to fight to keep Maynard out of the program.
Ida Marie was attacked and beaten July 1 by a masked man when she returned to the home she shared with Maynard.
Maynard, 43, later admitted to police that he attacked Ida Marie, according to his arrest warrant.
“We think that Mr. Maynard’s violent and brutal actions against my sister warrant severe punishment and should not be permitted any leniency,” said Jennifer Lucarelli, Ida Marie’s sister.
“We think Mr. Maynard’s character demonstrates that he is not remorseful and therefore we hope he is sentenced appropriately for the crimes he committed,” Lucarelli said.
On Thursday, Maynard and his attorney, John Kelley, entered an application for the Family Violence Education Program. Judge Barbara Bellis scheduled a hearing on the application for 9 a.m. on Feb. 25.
Maynard was charged in August with second-degree assault, first-degree unlawful restraint and first-degree reckless endangerment.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The assault and restraint charges are felonies, and the reckless endangerment charge is a misdemeanor.
Kelly said because of the felony charges, he will have to show good cause for Maynard’s acceptance into the program.
Ida Marie has hired her own attorney, Bill Bloss, to argue why Maynard should not be accepted.
The Attack
Police said that on July 1, Ida Marie came home at about 11:15 a.m. and found someone waiting behind the front door. The man threw a blanket over Ida Marie and hit her with a baseball bat, according to the arrest warrant.
Ida Marie escaped and sought help from a neighbor.
Four days after the attack, Ida Marie and Maynard were married. He admitted to the attack after being confronted by his wife’s family about the incident, police said.
Ida Marie has since filed for divorce, her sister said.
“We hope the criminal justice system doesn’t allow another violent crime against a woman go unpunished,” Lucarelli said.
