Key Aspects:
- A Maine man has been sentenced to 12 months in federal prison after admitting to assaulting his then-girlfriend on a cruise.
- The incident took place aboard a Malta-registered vessel departing from New York City in December 2024.
- Court records show the defendant had been on probation and prohibited from traveling when the incident occurred.
A Maine man who admitted to assaulting his girlfriend, including biting her aboard an international cruise ship, has been sentenced to a year in federal prison, closing a case that stemmed from a December 2024 voyage.
John Kelleher, 46, of Brewer, Maine, was sentenced on June 9, 2026, by US District Judge Stacey D. Neumann in US District Court in Bangor. In addition to the 12-month prison sentence, Kelleher was ordered to serve one year of supervised release and pay $360 in restitution, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.
Federal prosecutors said Kelleher pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026, to assaulting his then-girlfriend while the pair were traveling on an unidentified international cruise ship.
According to court records, Kelleher had been drinking heavily during the voyage. Prosecutors said that on or about December 19, 2024, he assaulted the victim by punching and biting her while onboard the vessel.
The incident occurred while Kelleher was serving a state probation sentence in Maine. Court records indicate the terms of his probation prohibited him from leaving the state without permission and from consuming alcohol.
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Prosecutors said Kelleher violated both conditions when he embarked on the cruise and consumed alcohol during the trip.
Federal authorities did not identify the cruise line or ship involved in the case, nor did they provide additional information about the victim’s injuries.
Court Records Detail Events
Additional court records show the assault stemmed from an argument between Kelleher and his then-girlfriend while the couple shared a cabin aboard a cruise ship that had departed from New York City. Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Cunard were all operating from the city at the time. Royal Caribbean also operated out of the nearby Cape Liberty port in New Jersey.
According to a factual basis filed in the case, Kelleher and the victim had been in a relationship for approximately 4 years and were traveling together aboard a Malta-registered cruise ship in December 2024.
The incident occurred after Kelleher accused the victim of being unfaithful, according to court filings. What began as an argument inside the couple’s cabin escalated into a physical assault.
Prosecutors said Kelleher struck the victim multiple times with a closed fist and bit her during the altercation. The assault took place while the vessel was operating within federal maritime jurisdiction.
The victim suffered a black eye and bruises across her body as well as bite marks, which she photographed on her cell phone.
While many incidents aboard cruise ships are handled internally by ship security teams, allegations involving serious crimes can be referred to law enforcement agencies for investigation.
Cruise lines maintain onboard security personnel who are responsible for responding to disturbances, documenting incidents, gathering witness statements, and preserving evidence.
In cases involving allegations of assault, security officers may also coordinate with medical staff to document injuries and provide care to those involved.
Depending on circumstances, investigations can be conducted by agencies including the FBI and the US Coast Guard.
In Kelleher’s case, his girlfriend did not contact ship authorities and instead reached out to local law enforcement in Maine when she returned home. The matter was referred the matter to the FBI, which investigated the assault and filed charges in June 2025.
