CAMDEN — Don McLean’s attorney says the singer has entered a not-guilty plea to a domestic violence charge in writing and will not appear in court later this month.

Police arrested the “American Pie” singer on the misdemeanor count on Jan. 18.

The next court date is Feb. 22. But attorney Walter McKee says nothing substantial will happen that day because McLean has already entered the plea.

After McLean’s arrest, his wife, Patrisha, filed a handwritten request for protection. The couple later announced through McKee that they had “agreed to move forward” and the protection order was dismissed.

Patrisha McLean wrote in her Jan. 19 request for the order that her husband was prone to rage during the first 10 years of their marriage and sometimes grabbed her legs or arms so hard that he caused bruises.

She said that in 1994, McLean once squeezed his hands against her temples so hard that it felt like her head was in a vise.

She said his temper subsided over the past 20 years, because of the stability of family life, she believes. She said the alleged assault that began on Jan. 17 was like the one in 1994, and that her head still hurt when she sought the protection order two days later.

Police arrested McLean shortly before 2 a.m. on Jan. 18. He was released from jail after posting $10,000 unsecured bail.

“American Pie” topped the Billboard chart 44 years ago. The singer lives in coastal Camden.


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