Cumberland County prosecutors drop charge against Yarmouth doctor

Yarmouth Doctor’s Sex Trafficking Charges Dropped After Lesser Plea

A Yarmouth physician facing serious sex trafficking accusations connected to a Freeport massage business has had the primary charges dismissed after entering a plea agreement for a lesser offense. Peter O’Donnell, 69, resolved the case this week by pleading guilty to engaging a prostitute, avoiding a trial that was already on the cusp of beginning.

Under the terms of a deferred disposition agreement, O’Donnell’s Class E offense will ultimately be dismissed, provided he avoids any future criminal conduct and completes a course titled "Stopping Sexual Exploitation in Maine." The agreement also requires him to pay $50 a month in supervision fees to the district attorney’s office.

The legal battle originated in November 2024, when Freeport police arrested O’Donnell. Authorities had alleged that his massage parlor, A. Envy, functioned as a front for prostitution, claiming O’Donnell recruited and employed individuals to perform sexual services for clients. A jury had already been selected for a four-day trial scheduled to start earlier this week, but O’Donnell opted to enter a plea deal before the proceedings advanced further.

Despite the conviction on the lesser charge, O’Donnell maintains his innocence. His attorney, Walt McKee, explained that his client submitted an Alford plea, a legal arrangement where a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges the state possesses enough evidence to likely win a conviction. McKee clarified the motivation behind the agreement in an email, stating, "Dr. O’Donnell has maintained his innocence from the start, and the Sex Trafficking charges that started this whole case have been fully dismissed." He added, "He entered into this agreement because it will involve the total dismissal of this last remaining charge as well."

The resolution of the case leaves some questions unanswered, as District Attorney Jacqueline Sartoris did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the agreement or whether any other charges were connected to the alleged trafficking operation. Regardless of the criminal proceedings, O’Donnell’s professional standing remains unchanged; according to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine, his license to practice as a family doctor in Yarmouth was still active as of Tuesday morning.