Ex-official accused of attempted murder
Staff writer
A former Peabody City Council member was formally charged Tuesday with attempted first-degree murder.
Alan D. Gillen, 62, was arrested at 7:42 p.m. Thursday by a sheriff’s deputy and booked into Marion County Jail, where he was held in lieu of posting a $150,000 bond.
County Attorney Michelle Brown upgraded the charges Tuesday to attempted first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated intimidation of a witness or victim, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and making a criminal threat.
At Brown’s request, Judge Keith Collett increased Gillen’s bond to $500,000. If he posts bond, he will be forbidden to have contact with the alleged victim, identified in open court as Donna Stevens, and to remain at least 1,000 feet away from her, her home, and her workplace.
The case involves a single victim and a .45 caliber firearm recovered at a residence in the 200 block of E. 2nd St. in Peabody, according to the sheriff’s office.
The incident unfolded over several hours beginning the night of April 21 and continuing into the early morning April 22, Undersheriff Larry Starkey said.
Gillen left the residence and returned about 4 a.m. He placed a handgun against Stevens’ head and pulled the trigger, but the weapon did not fire, Starkey said.
He also covered her face with a blanket, which was seized during his arrest, and prevented her from leaving the residence.
Stevens was found with visible bruising. She was examined by ambulance attendants but not taken to a hospital.
The incident was reported by a family member, and Gillen was taken into custody Thursday without resistance, according to Starkey.
Emergency medical calls were logged beginning at 6:18 p.m. April 23, followed by a possible domestic violence call at 6:48 p.m. Both were believed to be connected to the incident, Starkey said.
An offense report issued in the case indicated that Gillen had been drinking.
There had been at least one prior call involving Gillen, Starkey said.
Gillen previously was jailed March 2 for failing to appear in court, Jan. 10 and 11 on suspicion of domestic battery, and March 5 and 6, 2025, on suspicion of battery.
A prior case involving an alleged battery of a juvenile remains pending after a diversion agreement was revoked, according to court records.
Gillen was elected to the Peabody City Council as a write-in candidate in 2019 and was defeated for re-election in 2023.