Maine Man Gets Prison Time After Cruise Ship Assault

A Brewer man will spend a year behind bars after federal prosecutors say he assaulted his girlfriend while the two were on an international cruise.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 46-year-old John Kelleher was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court after previously pleading guilty to the assault. Prosecutors say Kelleher and his girlfriend at the time were traveling together on a cruise in December of 2024 when he began drinking heavily.

WGME reports that drinking was also an issue because, according to federal authorities, Kelleher was on state probation at the time. As part of that probation, he was not allowed to leave the state of Maine or consume alcohol.

The assault happened on December 19 while the cruise was underway. The DOJ says Kelleher bit and punched his girlfriend during the incident. Federal authorities did not say what led up to the assault, but the case was handled in federal court because the incident happened aboard an international cruise ship, the news station reported.

Kelleher pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026.

On Tuesday, he was sentenced to one year in prison. After his release, he will also serve one year of supervised release. In addition, Kelleher was ordered to pay $360 in restitution.

The case highlights how crimes committed aboard cruise ships can still lead to prosecution back in the United States, particularly when American citizens are involved and federal jurisdiction applies.