Maine Man Jailed Over Assault Aboard Cruise Ship

A Maine resident has been sentenced to federal prison following an assault that occurred onboard an international cruise ship.

John Kelleher, 46, of Brewer, Maine, received a 12-month federal prison sentence on Tuesday after pleading guilty to assaulting his then-girlfriend during a cruise in December 2024.

According to court records, the incident took place while the couple was traveling together aboard a cruise ship operating in international waters. Prosecutors said Kelleher was serving a probation sentence in Maine at the time, which prohibited him from leaving the state without authorization and from consuming alcohol.

Authorities stated that despite those conditions, Kelleher not only left the state but also consumed large amounts of alcohol during the voyage. Around December 19, 2024, the situation escalated into a violent confrontation in which he allegedly punched and bit the victim.

Kelleher entered a guilty plea to the assault charge in January 2026. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced him to one year in federal prison, followed by a one-year term of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay the victim $360 in restitution.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, which has jurisdiction over certain criminal offenses committed aboard cruise ships in international waters.