MACHIAS — A Washington County jail guard who said he was assaulted behind the facility in October has resigned before a scheduled termination hearing in front of the county commissioners.

Troy Lyons of Lubec resigned Thursday. He had worked at the Machias jail for 12 years.

Sheriff Donnie Smith suspended Lyons after an internal investigation concluded that the multiple injuries for which Lyons was treated the night of Oct. 29 were self-inflicted.

Smith tells the Bangor Daily News he concluded the assault was a hoax because of “improprieties and inconsistencies” in Lyons’ story. For example, Smith says Lyons claimed he fell to the ground after being struck, but was not wet or muddy even though it was raining that night.

Lyons has denied making up the assault.


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