CONCORD, NH — Four people were arrested during a New Hampshire State Police saturation patrol in the Bedford area Friday.
State police stopped 101 vehicles while conducting “high visibility patrols to deter and detect impaired drivers,” according to Tyler Dumont, a public information officer for state police. Troopers also focused their directed patrols and enforcement on apprehending “impaired and aggressive drivers” as part of the Office of Highway Safety. The effort is part of a national “Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, he said.
Charles Sibanda, 26, of Salem and Mario Coleccia, 33, of Manchester were both arrested on driving while intoxicated charges and open container violations. Nyaja Gilchrist, 20, of Peterborough was arrested on operating after suspension and speeding charges as well as a failure to yield to an emergency vehicle violation. Marissa Anderson, 38, of Boston, Massachusetts, was also arrested on operating after suspension and transporting drugs in a motor vehicle.
Find out what’s happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Troopers will continue conducting similar enforcement efforts throughout the state,” Dumont said.
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Mass. Man Injured In Motorcycle Crash
A man from Chicopee, MA, was injured on Wednesday during a motorcycle crash in Dover.
Find out what’s happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Around 8:45 p.m., troopers were sent to the area of Exit 7 for a motorcycle crash report. When they arrived, they found Yorky Acosta Hernandez, 20, the rider of the 2004 Yamaha YZF-R6 motorcycle, had crashed into a guardrail and was thrown from the bike. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Dumont said it was unknown why Hernandez crashed the motorcycle, but it appeared he “lost control while negotiating a curve.”
Assisting at the city were Dover Fire and Rescue teams and Eddie B Towing and Recovery. The Spaulding Turnpike was closed for about an hour.
Trooper Kevin Ledoux of the Troop A barracks is investigating all aspects of the crash. Anyone with information was asked to email him at kevin.p.ledoux@dos.nh.gov.
Travus S. Barnes Credit: NHSP
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Sex Offender Charged With Soliciting A Minor
A man from Winchester faces felony charges after being accused of an inappropriate online relationship with a child.
State police received a report in late July accusing Travus S. Barnes, 47, of using a mobile device and Snapchat to “facilitate inappropriate online sexual contact with a person under 16 years of age,” Dumont said. Barnes is a registered sex offender due to a 2014 sexual assault conviction. State police detectives, assigned to the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigated the incident and issued a warrant against Barnes. He was arrested Aug. 13 on endangering the welfare of a child-solicitation of a child to engage in sexual activity and failure to comply with sex offender requirements. He was arraigned in Keene District Court on Wednesday.
“Detectives are concerned there may be additional victims who have not yet made reports to police,” Dumont said.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation was asked to contact Det. Edward Horton at 603-931-0660 or edward.j.horton@dos.nh.gov.
Troop A Blotter
Michael Anthony Francisco, 32, of Peabody, Massachusetts, was arrested at 2:33 a.m. on Aug. 4, 2024, on aggravated driving under the influence-30-plus mph and DUI in North Hampton.
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Tristan Wyatt Young, 18, of Topsfield, MA, was arrested at 1:10 a.m. on Aug. 4 on a reckless operation charge in Hampton.
Christopher B. Parks, 46, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was arrested at 2:33 p.m. on Aug. 1 on driving after revocation or suspension, operating without a valid license, and disobeying an officer charges as well as an unsworn falsification and emergency vehicles; failure to move right violations in Newington.
Zachary Joseph Castellanos, 21, of Rochester was arrested at 3:31 a.m. on Aug. 1 on aggravated-DUI-collision with serious injury, DUI, and operating without a valid license charges in New Durham.
Thomas Walter Winward, 34, of Derry was arrested on a bench warrant at 2:45 a.m. on July 31 as well as a driving after revocation or suspension charge in Seabrook.
Thomas Higgins, 64, of Rochester was arrested at 6:57 p.m. on July 30 in a felony operating after certified as a habitual offender in Rochester.
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Joseph Michael Kavarnos, 29, of Brentwood was arrested at 1:26 a.m. on July 20 on aggravated DUI-30-plus, DUI, DUI-second offense, possession of a controlled drug, controlled premises, speeding-25-plus mph over the 65 limit, and transport drugs in a motor vehicle charges in Exeter.
Jason A. Griffin, 38, of Belmont was arrested at 1:23 a.m. on July 16 on aggravated DUI-30-plus mph and DUI charges in Portsmouth.
Troop B Blotter
Javon Isaiah Griffin, 21, of Manchester was arrested on a reckless operation chargs at 9:46 p.m. on Aug. 4 in Londonderry.
Marcos Isaac Sarmiento Castro, 19, of Manchester was arrested on a bench warrant at 10:57 a.m. on Aug. 4 as well as driving after revocation or suspension charge and unsafe lane change, yellow-solid line, and suspension of vehicle registration violations in Nashua.
Carlos David Mendoza, 29, of Lawrence, MA, was arrested at 2:29 a.m. on Aug. 4 on DUI, speeding-21 to 24 mph over 65 limit, and DUI-adult more than 0.08; minor more than 0.02 charges as well as lane control, yellow-solid line, and traffic control device violations in Londonderry.
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Jessica C. Hamel, 33, of Derry was arrested at 1:03 a.m. on Aug. 4 on a DUI charge as well as driving on divided way; crossing a median, lane control, yellow-solid line, and fail to maintain minimum speed violations in Salem.
Mikela Tock, 36, of Rowey, MA, was arrested at 9:23 p.m. on Aug. 3 on a DUI charge in Windham.
Donald E. Jennings, 38, of Merrimack was arrested at 3:44 a.m. on Aug. 3 on a DUI charge as well as lane control, yellow-solid line, and tail lamp and reflectors violations in Merrimack.
Kiya Benoit, 29, of Northbridge, MA, was arrested at 1:41 a.m. on Aug. 3 on a domestic violence-simple assault charge in Windham.
Michael David Gruette, 46, of Center Barnstead was arrested at 11:20 p.m. on Aug. 2 on reckless conduct-deadly weapon, disobeying an officer, reckless operation, negligent driving, and driving after revocation or suspension charges as well as lane control, emergency vehicles; failure to move right, driving on a divided way; crossing a median, traffic control device violation, failure to use required turn signal; yellow-solid line, and stop signs; yield signs violations in Manchester. At 12:13 a.m., he was also charged with speeding-26-plus mph over 55 or less limit, disobeying an officer, reckless conduct, operating with an expired license, two reckless operation, and two reckless conduct-deadly weapon charges as well as misuse of plates and yellow-solid line violations. Also arrested was Joseph G. Cote, 34, of Laconia on a possession; residual amount charge. Read more about this case here: 4 Arrested After Trooper Chase From Concord Through Bow, Dunbarton, Goffstown, And Bedford
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Richard John Soltes, 27, of Danvers, MA, was arrested at 2:45 a.m. on Aug. 2 on two reckless conduct charges as well as flammable material and dropping lighted matches violations in Bedford.
Meagan M. Irving, 40, of Strafford was arrested at 2:02 a.m. on Aug. 2 on a DUI charge as well as open container, lane control, and yellow-solid line violations in Manchester.
Christian Scott Yianakopolos, 31, of Manchester was arrested at 4:34 p.m. on Aug. 1 on five domestic violence-simple assault and two criminal threatening charges in Francestown.
Haily Marie Siverhus, 32, of Atkinson was arrested on a DUI charge at 12:57 a.m. on Aug. 1 in Nashua.
Luke Barrett Maczynski, 19, of Middletown, MA, was arrested at 10:59 p.m. on July 31 on speeding-25-plus mph over 65 limit, unlawful possession-intoxication, and transport alcohol by a minor charges as well as an open container violation in Manchester.
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Justin T. Simmons, 37, of Seabrook was arrested on a warrant at 3:24 a.m. on July 30 in Windham.
Marc Coels, 31, of Groton, Vermont, was arrested at 9:20 p.m. on July 29 in a DUI charge in Merrimack.
Robert L. Radcliff, 45, of Manchester was arrested on a bench warrant at 2:43 p.m. on July 29 in Manchester.
Paul Joseph Descar, 40, of Manchester was arrested at 2:27 p.m. on July 29 on a bench warrant in Manchester.
Troop D Blotter
Paul A. Pinheiro, 46, of New Hampton was arrested at 8:56 p.m. on Aug. 4 on a DUI charge in Canterbury.
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Shane Oryan Chase, 29, of Andover, was arrested at 5:50 p.m. on Aug. 4 on two domestic violence-simple assault charges in Andover.
Voeun S. Oum, 38, of Lynn, MA, was arrested at 6:57 p.m. on Aug. 3 on a felony operating after certification as a habitual offender charge in Hooksett.
Aidan Joseph Sleeper, 21, of Tilton was arrested on a reckless operation in Loudon at 6:02 a.m. on Aug. 2.
Daniel O’Neil, 34, of Warner was arrested without a warrant-domestic violence at 2:34 a.m. on Aug. 2 in Warner.
Nick T. Skidmore, 29, of Northfield was arrested on a DUI charge at 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 1 in Tilton.
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Nathan L. Greene, 31, of Laconia was arrested on a bench warrant at 1:26 p.m. on Aug. 1 in Hooksett.
Sherry Lynn Fox, 57, of Laconia was arrested at 1:26 p.m. on Aug. 1 on driving after revocation or suspension and felony drug possession charges in Hooksett.
Brett M. Miller, 29, of Chelmsford, MA, was arrested on a warrant at 10:42 p.m. on July 30 in Sanbornton.
Riley Rebecca Harris, 30, of Manchester was arrested on a warrant and a bench warrant at 12:13 a.m. on July 30 in Manchester.
Juan Morocho-Chimbaina, 33, of Lowell, MA, was arrested at 8:01 p.m. on July 29 on driving after revocation or suspension-subsequent, speeding-21 to 24 mph over the 65 limit, obstructing government administration, operating without a valid license, and two driving after revocation or suspension charges in Bow.
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Torre S. Walls, 32, of Hooksett was arrested on a warrant at 6:24 p.m. on July 29 in Hooksett as well as driving after revocation or suspension, driving after revocation or suspension-subsequent, operating without a valid license, conduct after an accident-death or injury, DUI, and aggravated DUI-collision with serious injury charges and a lane control violation in Hooksett.
Abdou-Karim B. Taal, 26, of Nashua was arrested at 3:10 a.m. on July 29 on aggravated DUI-30-plus mph, DUI, and speeding-25-plus mph over 65 limit charges in Concord.
Rebekah Marie Padua, 28, of Barnstead was arrested at 1:21 a.m. on July 18 on disobeying an officer, reckless conduct, DUI, reckless operation, aggravated DUI-attempt to elude police, and two driving after revocation or suspension charges in Chichester.
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A former New Hampshire state representative was sentenced to more than 33 years in prison for involvement in a child exploitation case — almost double the mandatory minimum.
Stacie Marie Laughton, 42, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of children after soliciting and receiving nude photos of three toddlers from an ex-girlfriend who worked at a daycare.
Lindsay Groves, 41, of Hudson, N.H., was sentenced to almost 22 years in prison earlier this month after pleading guilty to the same charges as well as an additional count of distribution of child pornography.
According to court documents, Groves took the photos of the victims in 2023 at Creative Minds daycare in Tyngsboro, where she was a teacher, during designated bathroom breaks and nap times.
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She then sent the photos to Laughton, who requested the images and asked that Grove touch one of the minor’s genitals. In the conversation included in the records, the pair sexualizes the victims.
“Did the girl give you an issue,” Laughton texted after receiving the photos.
“No… the boy didn’t either,” Groves texted back.
In a sentencing memorandum, Laughton’s counsel had argued that she should receive a shorter sentence than Groves and asked for the minimum mandatory sentence, which would have 15 years for each count to be served concurrently.
“Stacie Laughton is a complex 42-year-old woman,” the memo said, noting that she was the first openly transgender woman to be elected to the New Hampshire legislature.
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The filing described Laughton’s history of mental health, substance abuse, sexual abuse, and trauma as mitigating factors the judge should consider.
“One of the few consistencies in Ms. Laughton’s life is her challenges with mental health illnesses,” the memo said. “She began receiving mental health treatment at the age of four and has been in and out of extensive treatment programs ever since.”
The death of Laughton’s wife in 2020 and a tumultuous relationship with Groves also added to her mental health struggles, the memo said, stating that the defendant drank every day and had tried heroin for the first time leading up to her arrest.
A doctor quoted in the filing said that Laughton likely had a low IQ, tied in part to her premature birth, as well as “normal sexual interests.”
“This finding shows both how caught up Ms. Laughton was in her relationship with Groves that she participated in activity counter to this and is … an important factor in considering whether Ms. Laughton would be a future threat upon release,” the memo said.
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The filing described Laughton’s actions as “horrendous, reprehensible, and shocking,” but said that even though the crimes were “utterly inexcusable,” she should still receive a shorter sentence than her codefendant out of a sense of justice.
However, in their own sentencing memo, federal prosecutors requested Laughton receive 40 years in prison.
“These crimes only came to light when Laughton reported them in an apparent attempt to punish Groves for ending their relationship,” prosecutors wrote. “The defendant, of course, did not disclose her own role in the creation of the imagery.”
“She ultimately admitted that she told Groves to touch one child’s penis, and claimed that she was feeding Groves’s attraction to children,” their memo said.
The prosecutors said that Laughton’s voice was the “more prominent one” in the conversation about exploiting children.
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In addition to her prison sentence, Laughton will also serve five years of supervised release.
Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement that she felt the sentence fit the crime.
“The victims in this case were toddlers – children who were not yet old enough to care for themselves and, in some cases, not even fully verbal. Everyone who learns about the conduct in this case should be outraged,” United States Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. “The sentences imposed reflect the depravity of the conduct and the seriousness of the crimes. My office will seek the most serious charges and the stiffest sentences for anyone who preys on children.”
Three people suffered injuries in a two-vehicle collision early Tuesday morning in Hooksett, New Hampshire.Courtesy of New Hampshore State
Three people suffered serious injuries Tuesday in a two-vehicle crash in Hooksett, N.H., police said.
The head-on collision happened around 5:40 a.m. on Interstate 293 northbound, State Police said.
Police said that Timothy Hubbard, 43, of Rome, Maine, was traveling south when he lost control of his car and crossed the median into oncoming traffic, police said.
Hubbard, his passenger, and the other driver were taken to hospitals to be treated for serious injuries, police said. The injures were not believed to be life-threatening.
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Police said speed was believed to be a factor in the crash, which is under investigation.
Hannah Goeke can be reached at hannah.goeke@globe.com.
Franklin, NH – Sara Jane (Sanford) Doherty, 79, of Franklin, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully at her home on June 11, 2026. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Sara was born on June 5, 1947, in Hanover, New Hampshire, to Harold and Sadie (Pettengill) Sanford.
As the daughter of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employee, Sara spent her childhood moving throughout New England, living in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. She graduated from high school in Hudson, Massachusetts, and later returned to New Hampshire, eventually settling in Franklin, where she made her home for more than forty years.
Sara built a successful career in the textile industry. She worked as a seamstress at Howland Originals before joining Star Specialty Knitting, where she began as a stitcher and, through hard work and determination, advanced to Plant Manager. She retired in 2003, and one of the greatest joys of her retirement was caring for several of her grandchildren, whom she adored.
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Sara was a remarkably talented and creative artisan. She sewed clothing for her children when they were young and later created outfits for her grandchildren and their dolls. She was a gifted painter and artist whose extraordinary drawings and paintings brought joy to those around her. An accomplished seamstress, knitter, crocheter, cake decorator, and musician, Sara had an exceptional ability to create beauty in many forms. Her handmade gifts and treasured creations will be cherished by her family for generations to come.
Her talent for cake decorating blossomed into a successful side business that spanned more than thirty years. Sara created hundreds of stunning and imaginative cakes, including wedding and birthday cakes for her own children and grandchildren. Her passion for baking was so well known that for many years her license plate proudly read “CAKES+.”
Sara also had a remarkable gift for bringing people together. She hosted countless family reunions, each one more creative than the last. With elaborate themes, games, prizes, delicious food, and endless laughter, she created memories that her family will treasure forever. She was also known for her generous holiday gatherings, often welcoming more than thirty family members and friends into her home for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. Summers brought cherished Fourth of July cookouts by Webster Lake, where Sara delighted in decorating the waterfront and gathering loved ones to enjoy the annual boat parade.
Sara’s love of giraffes was known by all who knew her. She spent years collecting hundreds of them, giving each a special “G” name. Before her passing, she shared one of her favorites, “Geebri,” with her granddaughter Sydni, who is expecting Sara’s first great-grandchild.
Her warmth, creativity, generosity, and love of family touched everyone who knew her. To say she will be missed is a vast understatement. She was truly the heart of her family.
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Sara leaves behind her devoted husband of 43 years, Joel Doherty; her sons, Todd (Michelle) Chapman of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, and Paul (Cheryl) Chapman of Northfield, New Hampshire; her stepdaughters, Ali (Oliver) Frates of Amherst, New Hampshire, and Kate Hodge of Durham, New Hampshire; and her beloved grandchildren, Shelby, Sydni, Morgan, Owen, Duncan, Calum, Macy, and Elyse, and Step-grandchildren, Matthew, Jennifer, Eric, & Kevin.
Sara was predeceased by her parents.
Sara’s family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Franklin VNA for their rapid and seamless response in setting up hospice, and to The Payson Center for their dedication and care, which gave us more precious time with her.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 11:00 AM in Franklin Cemetery, Thompson Park in Franklin.
For more information or to leave the family an online condolence, please visit www.smartmemorialhome.com.
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Click here to sign the guest book or honor their memory with flowers, donations, or other heartfelt tributes
