Pavel Dokukin of Augusta speaks against policies related to transgender students and bathroom use in a screenshot from the Jan. 9 meeting of the Augusta Board of Education. Dokukin was arrested on a charge of criminal trespassing when he refused to stop talking after reaching the two minutes allotted each speaker. The Kennebec County district attorney said Thursday she would not pursue charges against Dokukin. Screenshot from CTV7

AUGUSTA — An Augusta man who was arrested at a school board meeting earlier this month will not face charges, the Kennebec County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday.

Pavel Dokukin, 39, was arrested on a charge of criminal trespassing at the Jan. 9 Augusta Board of Education meeting when he refused to stop talking after reaching the two minutes allotted to each speaker. 

Maeghan Maloney, Kennebec County district attorney, said she decided not to file a criminal complaint against Dokukin.

“Law enforcement can make an arrest with probable cause, but the burden of my office is proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” Maloney said. “While Mr. Dokukin was seconds over his time limit, he was not disorderly. I also received communication from the Augusta Board of Education that they supported not having a criminal charge pursued.

Dokukin was one of dozens of people who attended the meeting and one of around 12 who spoke during public comment against bathroom policies related to transgender students.

During public comment, Dokukin asked board members if they would take responsibility for any harm done to a child because of bathroom policies related to transgender students. He also asked the board why it is not accommodating to parents who disagree with the policies. When he reached his two-minute limit, Martha Witham, board chairperson, asked him to stop talking. Instead, he spoke over her and claimed she was not paying attention to him.