Sullivan County Superior Court

COURTESY
Goshen woman sentenced for the possession with intent to distribute

NEWPORT — On Jan. 16 Kerri Butler, 34, of Goshen entered pleas of guilty to multiple charges related to the possession with intent to distribute the controlled drug(s) crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and possession of fentanyl. Butler was sentenced to a period of incarceration of 2.5-7 years at the New Hampshire State Prison for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in an amount greater than 5 grams. Butler was further sentenced to a concurrent 2.5-7 year period of incarceration for possession of fentanyl. In addition, Butler was further sentenced to serve 5-10 years at the New Hampshire State Prison, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. That sentence is suspended, conditioned upon good behavior, for a period of 10 years, and if imposed, will be served consecutively to the 2.5 to 7 year stand committed sentences.

Butler’s convictions originated from an investigation commenced by the Claremont Police Department.  On April 26, 2017, Sgt. Justin Laffin of the Claremont Police Department was dispatched to a location on Broad Street for a report of a fugitive wanted by the United States Marshals. The fugitive was identified as Kerri Butler. Laffin subsequently took Butler into custody. A further investigation, which included an execution of a search warrant, upon a motor vehicle in Ms. Butler’s control, yielded approximately 13 grams of crack cocaine, over a gram of fentanyl, approximately 18 grams of methamphetamine, along with certain evidence indicative of distribution.  

The above referenced investigation was conducted by the Claremont Police Department, and the cases were prosecuted by Deputy Sullivan County Attorney Justin Hersh.

 

Claremont man sentenced for the distribution of drugs

NEWPORT — On Dec. 17, 2018, Frank Heynig, 27, of Claremont entered pleas of guilty to multiple charges related to the distribution of the controlled drug heroin. Heynig was sentenced to a period of incarceration of six months on one charge of sale of a substance represented to be the controlled drug heroin. Heynig was further sentenced to a consecutive 12-month period of incarceration at the Sullivan County House of Corrections on three counts of sale of a substance represented to be the controlled drug heroin and possession with intent to distribute the same. Those sentences are to be served concurrent with each other, and consecutive to the initial six-month stand committed sentence.

Heynig will be evaluated for the Sullivan County TRAILS Program, pursuant to that sentence, which is an intensive incarceration-based treatment program run by the Sullivan County House of Corrections, and one based upon best practices. Mr. Heynig will also be supervised by the New Hampshire Department of Corrections for a period of three years. In addition, Heynig was further sentenced to serve two-five years at the New Hampshire State Prison, for a fifth charge related to the sale of a substance represented to be the controlled drug heroin. That sentence is suspended, conditioned upon good behavior, for a period of five years, and if imposed, will be served consecutively to the 18 month period of incarceration at the Sullivan County House of Corrections.

Heynig’s conviction originated from an investigation commenced by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force. On Oct. 1, 4, and 15, and Nov. 13, 2018, Mr. Heynig met with an individual cooperating with the New Hampshire Drug Task Force, in the city of Claremont, for purposes of selling said individual a quantity of a substance Heynig represented to be the controlled drug heroin. Members of the New Hampshire Attorney Generals’ Drug Task Force subsequently obtained a warrant for Heynig’s arrest, as well as a search warrant for a location on Main Street in the city of Claremont. Both warrants were effectuated on Nov. 15, 2018. Heynig, at the time of his arrest, was determined to have in his possession a quantity of a substance represented to be the controlled drug heroin, along with certain packaging and distribution materials. 

The above referenced investigations were conducted by the Claremont Police Department and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force, and the cases were prosecuted by Deputy Sullivan County Attorney Justin Hersh.

 

Lebanon woman pleads guilty to threatening, and simple assault  

NEWPORT — On Dec. 18, 2018, Leigha Keller-Bill of Lebanon entered pleas of guilty in the Sullivan County Superior Court on two counts of criminal threatening, committed on bail and one count of simple assault, committed on bail. The criminal threatening misdemeanor charges alleged that Keller-Bill threatened to beat someone and to stab them in the throat. The simple assault, committed on bail charge alleged that Keller-Bill assaulted a person by striking them. The victim was a uniformed Newport police officer at the time of the offense. All three crimes, which arose out of a single event, were committed while Keller-Bill was released on bail. 

Keller-Bill entered her pleas of guilty pursuant to a fully negotiated plea with the state. The plea agreement called for the state to reduce the two felony criminal threatening charges to misdemeanor variations of the same offenses and to reduce enhanced misdemeanor of simple assault to a simple assault. Keller-Bill, in exchange for the state alleging misdemeanor offenses, agreed to accept the state’s sentencing recommendation. The state’s recommendation included three concurrent sentences of 12 months in the House of Corrections, all but 30 days suspended for 3 years, credit for one day of confinement, and two years on probation. The state also recommended three consecutive sentences of 12 months in the house of corrections, all suspended all for three years, on the three counts of offense committed on bail. The sentences for the offenses committed on bail were consecutive to the two criminal threatening charges and the simple assault. Keller-Bill was also ordered to have no contact with the person she threatened. 

The court accepted Keller-Bill’s pleas of guilty and sentenced Keller-Bill to three concurrent sentences of 12 months in the House of Corrections, all suspended for one year, credit for one day of confinement with one year of probation on each the two criminal threatening complaints and also on the simple assault charge. The court also sentenced Keller-Bill to three consecutive sentences of 90 days, all suspended for one year on the three offense committed on bail charges. 

 

Claremont man sentenced for dealing Rx meds

NEWPORT — John Murray, 44, of Claremont was sentenced in Sullivan Superior Court on Dec. 17, 2018 to serve a 12-month term of incarceration at the Sullivan County House of Corrections for dealing in or possessing the prescription medication buprenorphine. All but 60 days of said sentence were suspended for a period of three years, conditioned upon good behavior and compliance with the terms of this sentence. That sentence was to be served concurrent with a sentence Murray had been previously sentenced to serve beginning in July 2018.

Murray was arrested, pursuant to an outstanding warrant, in the city of Claremont on June 7, 2018. Murray, at the time of his arrest, was found to be in constructive possession of the prescription medication buprenorphine.

The New Hampshire Department of Corrections and Claremont Police Department were involved in these investigations. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Sullivan County Attorney Justin Hersh.

 

Unity woman gets for 1 year for escape

NEWPORT — Ingrid Pacetti, 30, of Unity, New Hampshire was sentenced in Sullivan Superior Court on Dec. 14, 2018 to serve a 12-month period of incarceration at the Sullivan County House of Corrections for the felony crime of escape. Pacetti will be evaluated for the Sullivan County TRAILS Program, pursuant to that sentence, which is an intensive incarceration based treatment program run by the Sullivan County House of Corrections, and one based upon best practices. Pacetti will also be supervised by the New Hampshire Department of Corrections for a period of three years. Pacetti’s sentence will be served consecutively to the nine-month sentence she was serving at the time of her escape from custody.

Pacetti’s conviction arose as a result of an investigation conducted by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Sullivan County Department of Corrections. On Sept. 18, 2018, Pacetti failed to return to the Sullivan County House of Corrections after having been permitted to be in the community pursuant to the work release/work search program at the Sullivan County House of Corrections. Pacetti was subsequently apprehended several days later at a residence in the town of Goshen where she was found to be hiding. 

The Sullivan County Sherriff’s Office and the Sullivan County Department of Corrections conducted this investigation, and the case was prosecuted by Deputy Sullivan County Attorney Justin Hersh.

 

Newport man

sentenced for drug possession 

NEWPORT — Jeremey Raymond, 28, of Newport entered pleas of guilty and was sentenced in Sullivan Superior Court on Dec. 4, 2018 to serve a 1.5-3 year sentence at the New Hampshire State Prison for possession of buprenorphine.  Mr. Raymond was further sentenced to serve a 1.5- to five-year sentence, all of which was suspended for a period of five years, conditioned upon good behavior, and compliance with the terms of his sentences. That sentence, if imposed, would be served consecutive to the 1.5- to three-year sentence for possession of buprenorphine.

On May 30, 2018, members of the New Hampshire Department of Corrections conducted an investigation, pursuant to their supervision of Raymond, at a residence in the town of Newport. As a result of the investigation, it was determined that Raymond was found to be in constructive possession of the controlled drug(s) buprenorphine and morphine. Raymond was not home at the time of the investigation; however, the controlled drugs were found to be in his room and under his control.

The New Hampshire Department of Corrections and the Newport Police Department were involved in this investigation. The cases were prosecuted by Deputy Sullivan County Attorney Justin Hersh.

 

Vt. woman

sentenced for

falsifying evidence

NEWPORT — Amy Smith, 34, of Springfield, Vermont entered a plea of guilty to a felony charge of falsifying physical evidence related to giving a false name to a bail commissioner following her arrest. At a contested sentencing hearing, the State recommended that the defendant be sentenced to 12 months in the House of Corrections with all but 90 days suspended for two years and two years of probation upon her release. The state’s recommendation was based upon the Smith’s prior criminal convictions, which included felony convictions for forgery and sale of controlled drugs. Smith recommended a sentence of 90 days of incarceration all suspended for two years and that the court consider community service. The court sentenced Smith to a period of incarceration of 90 days all suspended for two years, 40 hours of community service, and declined to impose any period of supervision. 

The Sullivan County Attorney’s Office is determined to maintain the integrity of the criminal justice system and ensure that innocent individuals are not subjected to the risk of arrest and detention for the acts of others. The above referenced investigation was conducted by the Claremont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant County Attorney Geoffrey M. Gallagher.

 

Alstead man

sentenced for trespass, receiving stolen property

NEWPORT — On Dec. 6, 2018, Wade Smith, 46, of Alstead was sentenced in Sullivan Superior Court  to serve a 12-month term of incarceration at the Sullivan County House of Corrections for misdemeanor receiving stolen property. All of the sentence was deferred for a period of one year, conditioned upon good behavior and compliance with the terms of this sentence, which included Smith refraining from the consumption of alcohol and adherence to his current treatment protocols for substance abuse. Smith was further sentenced to a 12-month period of incarceration, all of which was suspended for a period of two years, along with two years of probation supervision, for the misdemeanor crime of criminal trespass. That sentence, if imposed, will be served consecutively to the sentence for receiving stolen property.

Smith was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence after members of the New Hampshire State Police responded to a single motor vehicle accident in the town of Langdon. Trooper William Neilsen conducted a secondary investigation stemming from a burglary of a nearby structure. Neilsen learned the structure had signs of a forced entry, and a composting toilet had been removed from said location. Neilsen further learned that Smith had a composting toilet in his truck at the time of the motor vehicle collision. Smith did not have permission to be on the property or have the authority to take the composting toilet.

The New Hampshire State Police was involved in conducting these investigations. The cases were prosecuted by Deputy Sullivan County Attorney Justin Hersh.