Following a hearing last Thursday in Gloucester General District Court, the disposition of a misdemeanor assault and battery charge against Lawrence Cohen was deferred for one year.

The charge stems from an altercation that occurred during an Oct. 4 town hall meeting on Gloucester’s bond referendum proposal that was on this year’s ballot. Cohen was defending himself, his attorney, Michael Soberick, stated.

Judge Joshua P. DeFord presided over the hearing, as several witnesses took the stand to give their perspectives on the case.

Maria Calloway, finance director for the county, said she, Board of Supervisors’ chairman Chris Hutson and County Administrator Carol Steele were at the front of the room, directly in front of the stage, to answer questions.

A moderator, along with Community Engagement and Public Information Manager Quinton Sheppard, was at the meeting handing a wireless microphone to those who would like to ask a question from their seats. Calloway said Cohen was the only audience member who walked to the front of the room to ask his question.

Calloway testified that Cohen asked for the county treasurer, who was not present at the town hall. She said Cohen then pointed to her and asked the amount of the unallocated fund balance. He then asked her about a flyer. Calloway and Steele both tried answering his questions, but Calloway said Cohen interrupted them and was asking multiple questions without allowing enough time for them to answer.

Next, Calloway said that County Attorney Edwin “Ted” Wilmot stood between her and Cohen and said he would not allow Cohen to bully the county staff. Wilmot told Cohen he could ask one question. Cohen then spoke directly to the audience. Sheppard then approached Cohen for the microphone. Calloway said Cohen swatted away Sheppard’s hand. She then said she saw one of Cohen’s hands around Wilmot’s neck.

Sheppard testified that Cohen hit his hand with a piece of paper when he extended his hand for the microphone. Sheppard said he could tell the situation was escalating, so he pulled out his phone to record. He said Wilmot had his hand on the base of the microphone and Cohen put his hand around Wilmot’s throat and pushed him back towards the stage. He said Hutson separated Cohen and Wilmot by pushing them apart.

A few witnesses said that Cohen took the action he did to defend himself. Kathleen Jones said that Cohen was being ganged up on and was intimidated by the county employees. Robert Stevenson and John Meyer also agreed that Cohen was defending himself.

Defense counsel Michael Soberick argued that Wilmot was the aggressor in this situation and Cohen was just defending himself.

DeFord said that what Cohen did at the meeting was “too much.” For the next year, Cohen was ordered to have no hostile contact with Wilmot and exhibit good behavior.

An assault charge that Cohen filed against Wilmot was nolle prossed and removed from the court docket.