A Maine State Police trooper being tried on charges of unlawful sexual contact with a minor was attacked and injured in a Wiscasset courtroom Thursday morning, allegedly by a relative of the victim.

The assault occurred just minutes before the jury in the trooper’s case was expected to announce its verdict.

Trooper Gregory Vrooman, 46, of Nobleboro was seated at a table in Lincoln Superior Court with his defense attorney, Steven C. Peterson, when Vrooman was attacked from behind, according to a witness to the incident.

Prosecutors said the jury had wrapped up deliberations and reached a verdict.

But moments before it was to be announced, 39-year-old William Harrison of Charleston, Mass., allegedly pounced on Vrooman and landed at least two punches before being subdued by court officers.

The jury and judge were not in the courtroom when the assault took place. Afterward, Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Hjelm dismissed the jury without having it announce the verdict.

Lt. Michael Murphy, special services supervisor for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, witnessed the assault. Murphy said Vrooman was facing foward — toward the bench — and did not see Harrison coming from behind.

“Harrison jumped up and started throwing punches. (Vrooman) had no chance to defend himself,” Murphy said. “He was bleeding. He got hit pretty hard.”

Murphy and the three other officers in the courtroom quickly subdued Harrison, handcuffed him and transported him to the Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.

Officers at the jail said Harrison was charged with Class B aggravated assault before being released Thursday night on $5,000 cash bail.

Harrison’s court date has been set for June 28 in Lincoln County.

Vrooman was taken out of the courtroom on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital, according to the Lincoln County News, which covered the trial. His condition was not available Thursday night.

District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau said he was told by Assistant District Attorney Deborah Cashman, who is prosecuting the case, that Harrison is a relative of the victim.

Vrooman, a 24-year veteran of the Maine State Police, was arrested in November 2010 on felony charges of tampering with a witness and unlawful sexual contact with a child. He was released on bail after his arrest and has been on unpaid leave since then.

At his trial, Vrooman faced 13 charges including unlawful sexual contact with a minor, unlawful sexual touching with a minor, assault, and witness tampering.

The Lincoln County News said the alleged victim is now 14 years old.

Rushlau said Vrooman’s trial started Monday. Jurors deliberated late into the evening Wednesday, but did not reach a verdict and returned Thursday morning to resume deliberations. Vrooman and family members were called into the courtroom at midmorning to hear the verdict, Rushlau said.

“We were on the verge of getting a verdict,” he said. “This was bizarre and unprecedented.”

Though no one but the jurors know what the verdict is, Rushlau said he believes it is still valid and won’t be challenged.

Peterson, Vrooman’s Rockport-based attorney, could not be reached.

Rushlau said Hjelm will call jurors back to court once Vrooman has recovered from his injuries.

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com