Local News

Taunton mayor takes deal for probation in domestic violence case

Shaunna O'Connell, a Republican, will serve six months of unsupervised supervision after prosecutors dropped a felony charge.

Taunton Mayor Shaunna O'Connell, leaves Attleboro District Court with her husband Ted O'Connell on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Marc Vasconcellos/Pool)

By Molly Farrar

December 16, 2024

1 minute to read

The mayor of Taunton will serve six months of probation following a domestic violence charge after a fight with her husband last summer, according to court records.

Shaunna O’Connell, a Republican and former state representative, pleaded not guilty to assault and battery on a family member, a misdemeanor, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a felony, in July.

The case was transferred out of Taunton into Attleboro District Court, where O’Connell was initially scheduled to stand trial by jury last week. Instead, prosecutors dropped the felony charge against O’Connell, who admitted to sufficient facts for the misdemeanor.

She will serve six months of unsupervised supervision until June and will also pay a $50 assessment for the misdemeanor.

O’Connell, a third-term mayor, made headlines when Ted O’Connell, her husband of 33 years, told police that an argument with his wife over “marital issues” had turned physical, court docs said. He said Shaunna allegedly bit him on his left forearm and also hit his right hand and knuckles with a small gasket cleaner.

“Ted and I are glad that this is over. It’s been very difficult for our family,” O’Connell said outside court last week, according to WPRI. “As we’ve said from the beginning, it was an argument over a marital dispute from which we have recovered.”

In October, Ted and Shaunna both separately asked for the charges to be dropped in affidavits submitted to the court.

“I wish I never had called the police,” said Ted O’Connell, who also said he would not take the stand if his wife went to trial.

According to court records, O’Connell was not ordered to participate in an intimate partner abuse education program because the incident was “isolated,” the judge found, “and the defendant has not otherwise engaged in abusive, controlling, or coercive behavior.”

“I love my wife and we’re moving on,” Ted said outside court, according to WPRI. “This is all over, and we’re glad it’s over.”