Taunton Mayor Shauna O’Connell effectively settled the criminal case against her on Thursday, the same day she went to trial, by admitting sufficient facts to one count of domestic assault and battery and getting a misdemeanor dismissed of aggression
O’Connell, a Republican elected for the first time in 2019, was arrested in July after her husband called the police during an argument between the couple.
O’Connell’s husband told police she bit his left forearm and then hit him on the right hand with a joint scraper, according to court documents.
On Thursday, O’Connell received six months of probation for the domestic assault and battery charge. According to Special Prosecutor Daniel Bennett, a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon was dropped.
O’Connell’s jury trial was scheduled to begin Thursday, court records show.
The mayor’s husband, Ted O’Connell, also told police that when he tried to leave the house, his wife jumped on the hood of his car to prevent him from leaving, according to court documents. Officers noticed a hole in the hood of his car.
“Ted and I have been married for 27 years. Like all couples, we’ve had challenges. We’ve been working through marital issues,” Shauna O’Connell said in a statement after her arrest. “During an argument, Ted involved the police. He now regrets making that decision. We ask for privacy for our family in personal matters.”