After receiving an anonymous tip, police arrested a Jaffrey man on sexual assault charges involving a minor, police said.
James A. Macgown, 24, was arrested on a warrant by Jaffrey police on May 18 after eluding police in Peterborough. Jaffrey police arrested Macgown again – hours after he was released by Peterborough – on unrelated drug possession charges.
“We notified the Jaffrey police that he may have been living there,” said Capt. Ernie Belletete.
Peterborough police had issued a warrant for Macgown earlier in the month based on an investigation that began in March, the day after the crime was reported.
“All parties involved were known acquaintances,” said Belletete. “Macgown was not related to the victim though.”
Macgown was released by Peterborough police on $25,000 personal recognizance with a July 11 court date. Shortly after being released, Jaffrey police were called once again, and MacGown was arrested on the drug charges.
The caller reported that Macgown was an unwanted subject at a North Street residence, a property where Macgown once lived, according to police. The caller told police that Macgown had stolen some of his Oxycodone pills.
Police asked Macgown about the pills, and he allegedly told police he purchased them two days prior. Police also secured a bag of marijuana and a pipe under a pillow on a bed belonging to Macgown, after someone in the apartment told them of its location.
After arrested by Jaffrey, Macgown declined the services of a bail commissioner and was transported to the House of Corrections. Macgown was charged with two counts of possession of controlled/narcotic drugs and one count of default or breach of bail conditions.
He was released the next day on $10,000 personal recognizance after he was arraigned at the Cheshire Superior Court. His next scheduled court date is July 6, for a dispositional conference.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.