Wife drops protection order against Don McLean

Don McLean booking photo (Courtesy Knox County Jail)

CAMDEN, Maine - "American Pie" singer Don McLean and his wife have agreed that an order of protection request after a domestic abuse charge earlier this month can be vacated, his attorney said on Sunday.

McLean was arrested Jan. 18 on a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence. He was booked and released from Knox County Jail on $10,000 bail.

The incident began around 2 a.m. when officers responded to his Camden home where he has lived with his wife, Patrisha McLean, a photographer, for about 20 years.

McLean will now file paperwork to enter a plea of not guilty, after which the matter will be referred to a judge for a conference.

A statement on his official website says none of the allegations made in the complaint were accurate.

"The protection order case is being dismissed by agreement," the statement begins. "Don stands by his unwavering statement from the beginning that none of what was alleged in the protection order case was true. There was never any abuse or criminal conduct by Don at all. The dismissal of the protection order case will confirm that. Don is looking forward to moving beyond this and getting back to his life and his music.

"Patrisha and Don have made an agreement to move forward and rebuild their lives. Neither party is seeking divorce. This now becomes a private matter between two very talented people."

McLean's wife also made a statement on the website regarding the incident.

"When I wrote out a statement in order to obtain a temporary protective order against my husband Don McLean I did not know it would be made public," she wrote. "I did not intend to define Don or our relationship based solely on the events recounted in the statement. Don has a big heart. He and I had many happy times in the 30 years of our marriage and what has recently transpired is unfortunate for all of us. I would ask everyone reading this to ignore the sensationalist, scabrous headlines and focus instead on the joy that Don, and his music, has given to so many for so long."

In her original request for protection when she called 911 she said she feared for her life because of McLean's rage, and indicated a pattern of abuse going back decades.

McLean sold his original hand-written manuscript to his 8 ½-minute classic "American Pie" last April for $1.2 million.

Prior to the auction he told the Rolling Stone magazine, "I have two children and a wife, and none of them seem to have the mercantile instinct. I want to get the best deal that I can for them. It's time."