What is happening in our community is enraging.

For years, Brandon Tobey, who operated a recovery house in Augusta, was lifted up as a local champion. He stood on corners in Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner with donation buckets, presented as a symbol of hope, while the public was encouraged to trust and support him. People gave their money, their faith and their belief that he was helping those trying to rebuild their lives.

Now, according to publicly available court filings, this same man, Brandon Tobey, is sitting in the Kennebec County Jail facing multiple serious domestic-violence-related charges and awaiting sentencing. The allegations are horrifying, and the courage of the women coming forward cannot be overstated.

What fuels my outrage is how long their pain went unseen — how their suffering happened in the shadow of a man being publicly glorified.

These women were living a nightmare while the community applauded him. That is not just tragic; it is a complete failure of oversight and accountability. The recovery community should be a place of safety, not a place where someone can gain power and praise while women suffer in silence.

We cannot ignore this. We need strict oversight, transparent leadership and a commitment to believing women the moment they speak. This man was also a program coordinator of the Augusta Recovery Reentry Center — steps away from the Augusta City Hall.

This must never happen again.

Nicholas Pappas
Augusta