By Dylan Marsh
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
CLAREMONT — Two Claremont, New Hampshire residents have been arrested on several charges stemming from an assault that allegedly took place on September 11, 2022.
Derek Basler, 39, of 85 Pearl Street was arrested on charges of Second-Degree Assault, Reckless Conduct, -Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault, Falsifying Physical Evidence, Possession of Controlled Drug, Criminal Threatening and Felon in Possession of Dangerous Weapon.
Ashley Marsh, 29, of 19 Chase Street was also arrested in connection with the alleged assault and received charges of Conspiracy to Commit Second-Degree Assault, Conspiracy to Commit Reckless Conduct, Conspiracy to Commit Falsifying Physical Evidence, Possession of Controlled Drugs and Breach of Bail. Both parties were arraigned on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at Sullivan County Superior Court and, according to court officials, pleaded not guilty to charges.
On September 13th, Members of the Claremont Police Department were dispatched to 19 Chase Street at 10:27pm to a report of an assault. An unidentified male claimed he had just been assaulted by Basler. According to police, the victim had clearly sustained visible injuries, including an older injury as a result of a previous incident involving Basler. Golden Cross Ambulance was also dispatched to the scene to bring the victim to Valley Regional Hospital.
According to an affidavit, the victim claims they contacted Marsh to reconcile after an argument that took place earlier in the day. When the victim arrived at the door of the Chase Street apartment, Basler arrived in his vehicle and approached the victim while wearing gloves and brass knuckles. Basler then demanded that the victim step inside the apartment to talk, and the victim attempted to flee but was pulled into the apartment by both Basler and Marsh.
Once inside the apartment, Basler reportedly began assaulting the victim, and then forced them into a bedroom. According to statements by both the victim and Marsh, Marsh then turned music up loudly so that the victim’s screams couldn’t be heard from nearby apartments. Basler then forced the victim into a bedroom and told him to empty his pockets. The victim had a knife in their pocket and threw it on the bed, which Basler then picked up and held to the victim’s throat and suggested that he was going to cut out their tongue and cut off their fingers.
Basler then demanded the victim take his clothes off and told him that he was going to sexually assault him. Once the victim removed their pants, Basler anally penetrated them either once or twice with a bottle, after allegedly asking the victim if he “wanted it with or without lube,” according to the affidavit. During the encounter, it is alleged that Basler asked the victim, “Do you like that, you little b****?” The bottle was then thrown into the trash and brought out to a dumpster.
Afterward, Basler asked Marsh if she had any trash bags, or knew where to “ditch a body”, and that they were going for a ride, and the victim’s behavior would determine if they survived or not. As they were leaving the apartment, the victim was able to escape and successfully make it to another nearby apartment. The resident of the apartment then called the police. At this time, Basler and Marsh left the area in Basler’s vehicle.
Police involved with the investigation were able to locate Basler’s car and determined the house that it had been parked in front of was Balser’s Pearl Street residence. Search warrants were then granted by a judge for the Chase Street apartment, black trash bag in the dumpster, Basler’s vehicle, the Pearl Street apartment, and both Basler and Marsh. As a result of those search warrants, police were able to locate a number of drugs and drug paraphernalia at both Basler and Marsh’s apartments. They were also able to locate the bottle that had been thrown away by Basler, as well as the knife that had been taken from the victim and used in the assault. Both Basler and Marsh were located at Basler’s Pearl Street apartment and taken into custody.
After being taken into custody, Marsh waived her rights and spoke with detectives involved with the case. When asked about what occurred in her Chase Street apartment, she responded to police by saying, “honestly, nothing good.” Both parties are awaiting trial and if found guilty, many of their charges will result in mandatory imprisonment.
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