Brewer, Maine Man Gets a Jail Sentence for Biting his Girlfriend

A Brewer man received his sentence this week for assaulting his then-girlfriend while the couple was on an international cruise ship.

Brewer, Maine, Man is Sentenced to Prison for an Assault on His Then-Girlfriend

John Kelleher, 46, of Brewer, is sentenced to twelve months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release.

In addition, he's ordered to pay $360 in restitution.

Kelleher pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026.

Brewer, Maine, Man Sentenced for an Assault While on a Cruise was on Probation

The U.S. Attorney, District of Maine says the charges stemmed from an incident that happened in December 2024, when Kelleher and his then-girlfriend were traveling on an international cruise.

At the time of the incident, Kelleher was on state probation in Maine and was not supposed to leave the state without permission or consume alcohol.

Court documents state that while on the cruise ship, Kelleher physically assaulted the victim by biting her and punching her.

Officials say he had been drinking heavily, while on the cruise.

Maine Residents Experiencing Domestic Abuse are Encouraged to Reach Out

Anyone experiencing domestic violence or who is concerned about someone who may be is encouraged to seek help immediately.

Call the Maine Domestic Abuse Helpline at 1-866-834-HELP (1-866-834-4357) for confidential support and connections to local resources, 24/7.

Partners for Peace offers 24/7 assistance to residents of Penobscot and PIscatquis counties. 1-800-863-9909.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is also available 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233), or by texting START to 88788.

Anyone who feels they are in danger should call 911 immediately.