AUGUSTA — A state legislator who is accused of holding a stranger at gunpoint in a parking lot in Waterville has resigned his seat.

Rep. Frederick Wintle, R-Garland, quit his House seat within the last two weeks, said his attorney, Leonard Sharon, on Tuesday outside Kennebec County Superior Court, after a hearing in which a judge continued Wintle’s case.

Wintle is charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and carrying a concealed weapon. He has been free on $3,500 cash bail, with conditions that bar him from being at the State House complex without written permission from House Speaker Robert Nutting, R-Oakland.

Sharon said he has been speaking with District Attorney Evert Fowle in an attempt to resolve the case without a felony conviction against Wintle.

Sharon said he hopes to have a meeting involving all parties so Wintle can apologize for his actions, which Sharon said were the result of a mental breakdown.

“I understand what happened is really bad and really scary,” Sharon said.

Wintle is getting psychological treatment.

Nutting said in a prepared statement that he received Wintle’s resignation Tuesday.

“I am pleased that he made this decision that will allow him to concentrate on his health and his family, and at the same time will allow people who live in Garland, Athens, Charleston, Dexter, Harmony and Ripley to have representation in Augusta.”

Nutting said, “I accept his resignation and wish him and his family the best in the future.”

The speaker “knew about Wintle’s intent to resign for the past couple of weeks,” said Jim Cyr, a spokesman for Nutting.

Nutting said details of a special election in House District 24 will be announced soon.

Sharon asked the judge to continue the case, and Justice Michaela Murphy set Wintle’s next court appearance for 10 a.m. Dec. 7.

Wintle, who was accompanied at the hearing by his brother, did not speak to the judge.

Wintle had a psychological evaluation soon after his arrest May 21 in the parking lot of Dunkin’ Donuts on Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville, after he allegedly pointed a .22-caliber handgun at Michael Seamans of Sidney.

Seamans, a photographer for the Morning Sentinel who had stopped for coffee on the way to work, said Wintle told him he was looking for the drug dealer of the mother of a dead baby in Waterville.

Seamans said he called police after Wintle pulled the handgun from his waistband and pointed it at him.

On Tuesday, Seamans said the most important thing is public safety, not whether Wintle continues to be a legislator.

“It was a random act, which I think is the scary part about it,” he said.

Legislative colleagues reported seeing Wintle’s behavior change in the months before the incident. His behavior in March led Capitol Police to issue him a notice barring him from the office of the Legislature’s executive director.

Wintle, a 20-year Air Force veteran, is a writer. He has no criminal record and was a first-term legislator.

Leaders from both parties wished him well Tuesday. House Minority Leader Emily Cain, D-Orono, said she hopes Wintle can spend whatever time he needs with his family and others.

Sen. Doug Thomas, R-Ripley, said he’s not surprised that Wintle resigned but he feels sad about the situation.

“He’s got a good family. He’s a good man,” Thomas said, “and I wish I knew what happened.”

Wintle’s former constituents expressed disappointment Tuesday.

“None of us have any animosity against him or anything,” said Harmony Town Clerk Betty Pratt. “I think it’s just a sad situation that it happened. I don’t think any of us really understand.”

MaineToday Media State House Writer Rebekah Metzler contributed to this report.