DANVERS — It took a few drops of oil to fix the friendship between two Danvers men — a few drops of oil, a fight, an arrest and court-ordered anger-management classes.
But yesterday, Frederick Richard, 47, and his tenant, James Howard, walked out of court together, their longtime friendship stronger than ever, after Richard pleaded guilty to breaking and entering into Howard's apartment last June.
The unusual set of facts was laid out by prosecutor Michelle DeCourcey during Richard's change of plea hearing in Salem District Court.
Back on the evening of June 11, Danvers police were sent to 147 High St. for a report of a fight.
Richard owns the building and Howard is his longtime tenant. But Richard had grown frustrated over finding oil stains from Howard's car in the driveway and began yelling at him.
When Howard went inside and locked the door, Richard decided to go in after him, breaking into Howard's first-floor apartment through a window, DeCourcey said, and eventually grabbing him by the throat.
"That's a most unusual fact pattern," Judge Richard Mori commented.
Richard's lawyer, John Morris, said the two men are longtime friends and Howard not only rents from Richard but works for him in a flooring business. Richard acknowledges that he has "an anger problem" and since his arrest has been taking part in anger-management classes.
The lawyer said he told his client yesterday, "He seems more content with himself. He's a different person."
Richard himself acknowledged that he overreacted.
Under the terms of a plea agreement, Richard will spend 18 months on probation and must continue to attend anger-management classes.
