CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Department of Corrections is asking for the public’s help finding a felon fugitive with a lengthy criminal history who has absconded from probation supervision again.
Adam James Smart is white, 40, about 5 feet, 9 inches tall, and weighs around 200 pounds. He has green eyes and brown hair. Smart has several tattoos — including a steer skull in a dream catcher on his back, a black figure character on his right-left arm, and a skull with a feather headdress on his left upper arm shoulder.
Investigators with the corrections department put a cautionary warning on Smart’s fugitive status due to “violent tendencies” because of prior violence. Previous charges include theft, delivery of articles, burglary, receiving stolen property, driving after revocation, indecent exposure-lewdness, fraud, controlled drugs, reckless conduct, disobeying an officer, and simple assault.
“His current whereabouts are unknown,” officials said.
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One warrant was issued out of Rockingham County, while Smart also faces two other bench warrants
Smart was featured as a fugitive of the week by the U.S. Marshals Service in May 2018. He was arrested at gunpoint in Concord a few months later.
Smart’s felony criminal history dates back at least 14 years when he was accused of receiving stolen property in Manchester and burglary and theft in Londonderry. He pleaded guilty to the Londonderry charges in May 2011. Smart received a suspended seven-and-a-half-year sentence, with 210 days of time served and $2,575 in fines.
Smart’s criminal activities continued in August 2010, when he embarked on a spree of burglaries, accused of targeting locations in Derry, Hooksett, Londonderry, Nashua, New Hampton, and Sanbornton, and being charged with burglary and theft. He was convicted on multiple charges in 2010 and 2011. He was also convicted of fraudulent use of a credit card out of Plymouth and faced several violations of probation charges after the convictions.
In March 2012, Smart was accused of burglary in Merrimack; two receiving stolen property charges in Chichester; robbery, armed robbery, and kidnapping-liability in Concord; and two receiving stolen property charges in Derry. Smart pleaded guilty to the Merrimack burglary charge in December 2012. In March 2013, he pleaded guilty to one of the Chichester stolen property charges. Just before the robbery charges were set to go to trial in May 2013, they were nolle prossed. And, in June 2013, he pleaded guilty to the Derry charges.
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In December 2023, a warrant was issued for his arrest on a violation of probation charge. Mail was also sent to a Concord address, on West Portsmouth Street, which was returned to the court and sent to a post office box later, which was listed on a return label, according to a court filing.
Smart was indicted in January 2013 on theft and burglary charges out of Auburn from July 2010. He pleaded guilty to the charges five months later.
While incarcerated in February 2013, Smart was accused of conspiracy-delivery of articles to prisoners. He pleaded guilty to the charge in May 2014.
In March 2018, Smart was accused of drug possession in Salem and pleaded to a misdemeanor controlled premise where drugs are kept charge, receiving a 12-month suspended sentence and a $434 fine.
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CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
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